HARRISBURG, Pa. – With the threat of huge cuts in Social Security benefits in the future, some voters are asking what plans the presidential candidates have to update the system.

The latest report by the Social Security trustees estimates that, if nothing is done, benefits could be cut by 25 percent in just 18 years.

AARP also has been asking the candidates what they would do, and Bill Johnston-Walsh, state director for AARP Pennsylvania, says four of the five leading candidates have responded.

"Some of the ideas that have come up are increasing the retirement age, means-testing higher incomes, increasing the payroll tax, indexing benefits to prices,” he states. “Some of the candidates believe in private accounts for Social Security."

AARP has posted the candidates' responses online at 2016TakeaStand.org.

Pennsylvania has the fourth-oldest population of all the states in the nation.

Johnston-Walsh points out that with 6.8 million Pennsylvanians currently paying into Social Security, all hoping to collect benefits when they retire, there's a lot at stake.

"We're concerned that the future generations coming up aren't saving the way they should, and we're worried that they're going to have just Social Security to live on,” he says. “And we have to keep that safety net there."

The Social Security system is 80 years old but hasn't had a major update since the Reagan administration.

Johnston-Walsh says political candidates have been talking about the problem for years, but now, they need to talk about solutions.

"The longer we wait, the harder the problem will be to solve and the less time workers will have to prepare for their future,” he states. “We can't kick the can down the road anymore. It's just not an option."




get more stories like this via email

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Two Maryland men have received AARP Maryland's highest honors for folks age 50 and older for giving back to their communities, one by helping veterans cut through bureaucracy and the other by getting food to people in need.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Curtis "Gunny" Jones won the Maryland State President's Award for steering fellow veterans through the VA system to get benefits. Jones said many veterans come home after serving with issues such as PTSD or exposure to chemicals such as Agent Orange. He pointed out that they need extra support but often don't know where to turn to get it.

"As a whole, the system works. It's not broken," he said. "The average veteran doesn't know that he rates VA health care. So, if you don't know to go to the VA and seek health care, you don't get it. And people don't know that - so they suffer because of a lack of knowledge."

In the past 10 years, mostly through word of mouth, Jones has helped folks across the country - and as far away as the Netherlands - submit claims for health support, from medical treatment to wheelchair ramps. The awards, to him - and to Sanjay Srivastava for his food-distribution efforts in Howard County - were presented in a virtual ceremony Thursday.

Srivastava won this year's AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. He said he also began by using word of mouth to feed hungry Marylanders in Ellicott City when he saw the need firsthand during the pandemic. Through his Indian Cultural Association, he organized a large group of volunteers to distribute food, totaling more than 2 million pounds as of May.

"I've had 14-year-old kids call me and say, 'Hey, are you the food guy?' And I say, 'Sure.' And they say, 'We have no food.' And they're calling on behalf of their parents or their neighbors," he said. "And these are kids. And so, we owe it to one another to stand up and do something about it."

The group sets up food stations at libraries, senior housing and churches in Howard County. Food distribution in the state has surged more than 85% in the pandemic, according to the Maryland Food Bank.

There's more information on the Indian Cultural Association's Facebook page.

SEATTLE - A new survey finds support for the first-of-its-kind long-term care program set up by Washington state.

Under the WA Cares Fund, Washingtonians will have access to $36,500, adjusted for inflation, to pay for care services when they retire. The AARP survey found 51% of Washingtonians support the program, but Cathy MacCaul, advocacy director for AARP Washington, noted that support goes up as people find out more about the fund, such as the fact that they don't keep paying for it once they retire.

"As the voters learned that you're not going to be excluded by pre-existing conditions, you can pay a family caregiver, men and women pay the same," she said, "that significantly increased the favorability of the WA Cares program."

MacCaul said seven in 10 adults age 65 and older will require some type of assistance to live independently as they age. Some opponents of the program have said it doesn't offer enough coverage.

MacCaul said there are likey some details about private long-term policies of which people aren't aware.

"Consumers should be aware of buying a policy and what they are paying into and how much they're paying into the policy," she said, "because the premium payments don't stop when you retire."

MacCaul said people often don't think about long-term care until they need it and have some misconceptions on how they will afford it. She said three-quarters of the people surveyed incorrectly believe Medicare or private insurance would pay for long-term care in a nursing home. She said they have other impressions as well.

"Almost 80% mistakenly thought that they would be able to use Medicare or private health insurance for a paid family caregiver to help them with dressing or bathing, etc.," she said.

Beginning in 2022, workers will pay 58 cents for every $100 they make into the WA Cares Fund. They will have access to the fund in 2025.

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Older North Dakotans are being bombarded with reminders about Medicare enrollment. While it is tempting to block out some messaging, state officials said there is important information that could help save money on prescription drug costs.

Enrollment for Medicare 'Part D,' for people already on Medicare, begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7.

Karri Morris, Medicare State Health Insurance Counseling manager for the North Dakota Insurance Department, said there are few significant changes to the process this year, but enrollees should still see if there is a better drug plan for them.

"If they have medications that they are taking, they will want to review and compare the overall costs of the prescription plan, rather than just looking at the premium costs," Morris advised.

She pointed out people too often focus on premium costs and overlook big changes in out-of-pocket expenses for their medications. And with national celebrities doing television ads for services such as Medicare Advantage, Morris cautioned some of what is being offered either might not be available to them, or would not meet their needs.

Locally, Sanford Health is offering a new Medicare Advantage plan, but it is only available in select counties, which Morris contended is why it is important to reach out to the Insurance Department and speak with a counselor. They are scheduling appointments now, and Morris said it is best not to wait.

"You don't want to wait until the end of open enrollment," Morris cautioned. "At that time, they can encounter long wait times, or take the risk of missing the deadline of getting enrolled into a new plan."

Josh Askvig, state director for AARP North Dakota, said scammers will not be taking a break this year, either. He urged people to be mindful of anyone who might call or email and sound helpful, but really is not.

"They try and use that open enrollment period to heighten awareness, and they'll call and say, you know, 'In order to enroll, you need to pay this small fee,'" Askvig explained.

He said neither the state nor Medicare officials will call with such a message. Appointments for Medicare counseling can be scheduled on the Insurance Department's website, or by calling 888-575-6611.