There are lots of ridiculous rumors swirling about these days. Get the facts today - http://hubpages.com/hub/politicalfacts
According to a recent online survey, by Harris Interactive and CareerBuilder, of laid-off workers, the majority of workers age 55 and older who were laid off in the last 12 months say they have applied for jobs below the level at which they were previously employed.
The state of the U.S. economy has caused a large number of older workers to delay retirement. This delay has created some benefits, as well as raised concerns. The Wall Street Journal reports that in a recent survey of more than 2,200 U.S. workers, 44% of respondents age 50 or older said they plan to postpone retirement. Half of those say they plan to work at least three years longer than previously expected.
Delayed retirement is reportedly good news for employers who are unprepared for mass retirements among baby boomers. However, delayed retirement is causing concerns for other companies that may need to shed employees to remain profitable.
The White House has unveiled a plan that would give the executive branch more power over Medicare reimbursement rates. Under the proposed plan, Congress would largely cede its power to decide payment issues. The plan would form an independent Medicare Advisory Council that would draw up payment policy recommendations, subject to approval by the president. Congress would then have the opportunity to disapprove the recommendations. However, if it did not, the recommendations would go into effect.
Recent reports indicate that claims that Acai berry products help with weight loss, strengthen your heart, slow aging, and aid in colon cleansing, as well as enhance sexual desire, are not backed by science. Additionally, thousands of consumers are now complaining that the “free trial” offers for these products are anything but free. For example, consumers are told that a trial offer is free and that they will be charged $5.00 for shipping. Instead they find that they have been charged significantly more - one consumer complained that he never received a free bottle. Instead, his bank account was hit for four bottles of the Acai berry product, at $69.95 per bottle.
It is important to exercise extreme caution when one is tempted to give out debit card, credit card, or bank account information for any reason, including televsion and internet offers.
The Social Security Administration announced that people who reach retirement age, as early as age 62, can visit the agency’s web site and submit a benefits application.
Visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ to apply online.
If you began receiving your Social Security benefits early, it may be to your advantage to withdraw from Social Security and reapply for higher benefits. For an explanation of this option, visit http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.15/handbook-1515.html. Before exercising this option, please be sure to have an in depth discussion with a financial planner and your local Social Security office.
Articles of interest - Turning 62: Have your retirement cake and eat it, too
Trade In Your Social Security Check
Reapplying for Social Security may be a good idea
Be sure to check out http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml, which is the site with official information and services from the U.S. government.
According to the MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Career Survey, millions of baby boomers are interested in second careers that combine income and personal meaning with social impact. As many as 9.5 percent of Americans ages 44 to 70 are in encore careers, and an additional 44.7 percent are interested in pursuing encore careers. As defined by the MetLife study, encore careers are largely in health care, education, government, and nonprofit organizations.
Many older people need help paying for prescription drugs, health care, utilities and other basic needs. Ironically, millions of older Americans — especially those with limited incomes — are eligible for but not receiving benefits from existing federal, state and local programs. Ranging from heating and energy assistance to prescription savings programs to income supplements, there are many public programs available to seniors in need if they only knew about them and how to apply for them.
Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation’s most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources.
BenefitsCheckUp includes more than 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, such as:
Since 2001, millions of people have used BenefitsCheckUp to find benefits programs that help them pay for prescription drugs, health care, rent, utilities, and other needs. For information visit BenefitsCheckUp.