Active! Your Best Life after 50

8/18/2019 Active! Your Best Life after 50

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2G ...........................................................................................................THE STATE SUNDAY APRIL 24 2016

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SUNDAY APRIL 24 2016 THE STATE ..................................................................................................... 3G

Columbia, SC - Phyllis Hicks had been hiding something. This busy grandmother ran the family business while taking care of her grandkids. On the outside, it looked like she“had it all”, she was struggling with an ever increasingly frustrating problem that plagued

her for 30 years.

Phyllis is very scared of going to the dentist. Worse, she was even more afraid of

being judged or made to feel guilty for her anxiety. Phyllis was not able to eat the foods that she treasured and loved and was in constant pain with her teeth.

She never smiled and was even embarrassed to be out in public, or even to play withher grandchildren.

The “Miraculous” Solution that Most AnxiousDental Patients have NO Clue About!

Fortunately for Phyllis, startling advancements in sedation dentistry provided her with options that weren’t available for her in thepast 30 years. Now, Phyllis is laughing, smiling, and enjoying those grandchildren with the confidence and pleasure she desires.

Her friends now admire her new smile and beauty...and some have actually admitted gossiping about what plastic surgery she had done. After all, “she is looking 10 years younger!

Phyllis Got Her Life Back At this point, you may be wondering...

How Can I Be One of The People to Benefit From This Miraculous Solution, Too?

Dr. Greg Wych, from right here in Columbia, is a leader in providing sedation dentistry to his patients to alleviate their anxiety

and suffering while returning them to a state of overall health.

FREE CONSUMER REPORT REVEALS ALL!If you are interested in more information, Dr. Wych has created a FREE Report,”Do you experience the paralyzing fear of dentistry?”

To receive your FREE Report please call (803) 781-1600. To request an appointment, go to the website www.gregorywych.com.

65 Year Old Grandmother Ends

Frustration With Dental Anxiety Experiences Sheer Joy of Gorgeous Strong Teeth, and Re-ignites Her Youth and Love Life

(Office) (803) 781-1600

www.gregorywych.com

“Dr. Wych, I wanted to tell you what a difference my new

veneers have made in my life. I now find myself smiling

without hesitation. I have a new found confidence. I am

very proud of my teeth, and cannot thank you and your

staff enough for giving me the gift of a beautiful smile.-Virginia WoodColumbia, SC

“They were very friendly and made you feel

right at home. Dr. Wych is always kind and

gentle.”

-Gwen BrennanProsperity, SC


4/16

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Active! Your Best

Life after 50

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Sara Johnson BortonPresident and Publisher

Bernie HellerVice Presidentof Advertising

Kathy AllenDirector of Marketing

Rebekah Lewis HallSpecial ProjectsCoordinator

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About this

section

Active! Your Best Life after50 is a new advertisingsection of The State MediaCompany exploring therich lives of senior citizens,from local activities tofinancial planning.

Content was provided bythe Social SecurityAdministration, StatePoint

Media (which has noaffiliation with The StateMedia Company) and staffreports.

Does your organizationwork with Midlands-areaseniors? [email protected] aboutsubmitting content.

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On the cover

Candy Waites lifts weightsduring a workout at KoruGroup Fitness. Photoprovided by Lisa Austin.

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CITY OF COLUMBIA

SENIOR PROGRAMS

1111 Parkside Drive; (803)545-3100; www.columbiasc.net/parks-recreation/ programs/senior

THE 2016 SENIOR TRIPSPROGRAM includes theseexcursions:A June 7 and Nov. 8,

Cherokee Indian Casino.$34.A Sept. 10-18, Cape Cod

and Martha’s Vineyard inMassachusetts. $719 (dou-ble occupancy). Full pay-ment due June 1.A Sept. 22, pick apples in

Hendersonville, N.C. $34.AOct. 10-13, S.C. Senior

Beach Retreat in MyrtleBeach. Price based onroom occupancy. Fullpayment due July 31.ADec. 6, National Gin-

gerbread House Competi-tion in Asheville, N.C.Price to be announced.

SPECIAL EVENTS:AActive Adults Olympic

Games: Evening competi-tions. Locations vary.A Senior Expo and Fun

Day: The May event in-cludes health screenings, vendors, cooking demon-strations and more. Free.A

Bingo Blitz: 1-4 p.m.on the first Wednesday of each month at the EauClaire Print Building,3907 Ensor Ave. $3.AHoliday Seniors Ball:

The semi-formal eventincludes dinner, dancing,prizes and free photos.

CLUBS are available atthese neighborhood parks:ADrew Wellness Center,

2101 Walker Solomon;

(803) 545-3200.AGreenview Park, 6700

David St.; (803) 754-5223.AHyatt Park, 950 Jack-

son Ave.; (803) 733-8445.AKeenan House,

801 Wildwood Ave.;

(803) 545-3091.ALorick Park, 1600

Lorick Ave.; (803) 691-

9339.AMartin Luther King Jr.Park, 2300 Green St.;(803) 733-8452.APinehurst Park, 2300

Pinehurst Ave.; (803)733-8449.ASt. Anna’s Park, 1301

Liberty Hill Road; (803)733-8450.

RICHLAND COUNTY

RECREATION

COMMISSION7473 Parklane Road;(803) 741-7272;www.richlandrec.com

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES:ABlack Cowboy Festival

Trip will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m.May 7. The festival fea-tures horse shows, rodeoevents, arts, music, foodand demonstrations in

Rembert. $35, RichlandCounty residents; $40,nonresidents.AFirst Fridays dances

are 7 p.m.-midnight thefirst Friday of the monthat the Adult Activity Cen-

ter, 7494 Parklane Road,and feature line dancing with a DJ. $10 per person.

A

Sweet Grass FestivalTrip, noon-7 p.m. June 4,travels to Mount Pleasantand Charleston, whereparticipants can buy sweetgrass baskets and otherarts and crafts, see basket-making demonstrations,and enjoy live music andperformances. $40, resi-dents; $45, nonresidents.ARed Carpet Gala for

Surviving Veterans will be

6 p.m.-midnight Sept. 10at the Adult Activity Cen-ter. Black-tie affair. Freefor veterans.

OTHER CLASSES ANDACTIVITIES are availableat individual sites. See www.richlandrec.com/info/activities for details.

FITNESS ROOMS, $10/month or $75/year, resi-dents; $15/month or $80/ year, nonresidents.

LEXINGTON COUNTY

RECREATION & AGING

COMMISSION

www.lcrac.com

Community senior cen-ters offer various pro-grams, classes and trips.

Batesburg-LeesvilleAndre Bauer Senior Cen-ter, 241 Highland Ave.,Batesburg-Leesville; (803)532-4536.

Gilbert-Summit SeniorCenter, 409 Broad St.,Gilbert; (803) 892-5745.

Lexington Senior Center,108 Park Road, Lexington;(803) 957-7979.

Pelion Senior Center,

210 Pine St., Pelion; (803)894-4351.

Pine Ridge Senior Cen-ter, 2753 Fish HatcheryRoad, West Columbia;(803) 755-1274.

Swansea Senior Center,197 N. Lawrence St.,Swansea; (803) 568-4545.

Tri-City Senior Center,485 Brooks Ave., West

Columbia; (803) 939-9311.IRMO-CHAPIN

RECREATION

COMMISSION

5605 Bush River Road;(803) 772-1228;

www.icrc.net/50-better

UPCOMING TRIPS in-clude these excursions.Day trips are offered ap-proximately once a week.AMay 4, June 2 and July

6, Harrah’s Cherokee Casi-no in North Carolina. $27.AMay 11, Wildlife Walk-

ing Trail at the SeweeCenter in Awendaw. $29.AMay 18-19, BBQ , Beans

& Bluegrass in Gatlinburg,Tennessee: Visit Dollywoodfor the BBQ and BluegrassFestival and tour Bush’sBaked Beans Museum.Price depends on occu-pancy, $170-$255.AMay 24 or 25, Boykin

Mill Complex Tour. $40.A June 9, Historic Beau-

fort. $54.A June 20-26, Tunica and

Memphis, Tennessee. Pric-

ing depends on occupancy,$581-$826.A July 21, Fine Arts &

Moonshine in Anderson:Tour Anderson Arts Cen-ter and Palmetto Moon-shine Distillery. $38.SEE THE ACTIVITYGUIDE, www.icrc.net/activity-guide, for more.

MORE

SENIOR RESOURCES

(www.seniorresourcesinc.org) wellness centers:ABishop Avenue Well-

ness Center, 7429 BishopAve.; (803) 691-1489.ABlythewood Wellness

Center, 1424 MarthanRoad, Blythewood; (803)786-2826.AEastover/Mamie Hin-

ton Wellness Center, 117Henry St., Eastover; (803)353-0532.

AHopkins WellnessCenter, 150 Hopkins ParkRoad, Hopkins; (803)783-9374.LOURIE CENTER, 1650Park Circle; (803) 779-1971.

Local activities and classes for seniors

PROVIDED PHOTO Lisa Austin

From left, Melinda Harrill, Josanne Wilson, Candy Waites and Connie Derrick celebrateafter a workout at Koru Group Fitness.


5/16


© 2016 Starkey. All Rights Reserved. 44508-16_4/16

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At Social Security, we’reoften asked, “What is thebest age to start receivingretirement benefits?”

The answer is that thereis no one “best age” foreveryone, and ultimately, itis your choice. You shouldmake an informed decisionabout when to apply forbenefits based on yourindividual and family cir-cumstances. Ask yourself:A Would it b e better to

receive benefits early witha smaller monthly amountor wait for a larger month-ly payment that you maynot receive as long?A What are your current

cash needs?AHow’s your health?A What’s your family

longevity history?ADo you plan to work or

have other income sourcesin retirement?A What are your future

financial needs and obliga-tions in relation to yourfuture Social Security ben-efit?

Maybe that’s a lot toponder, but this is a veryimportant decision. Onetool that can help youdecide is the online Retire-ment Estimator. It is aconvenient, secure fi-nancial planning tool sinceit eliminates the need tomanually key in years of earnings information. Theestimator will let you cre-ate “what if ” scenarios.

For example, you change your “stop work” dates orexpected future earnings tocreate and compare differ-ent retirement options. Goto www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator and enter therequested informationabout yourself. You cannotuse the Retirement Estima-tor if the information you

input does not match SocialSecurity’s records.

Monthly benefits differsubstantially based on when you start receiving. If you live to the average lifeexpectancy for someone your age, you will receiveabout the same amount inlifetime benefits no matter whether you start receivingbenefits at age 62, fullretirement age, age 70 orany age in between. Basi-cally, you can get lowermonthly payments for alonger period of time orhigher monthly paymentsover a shorter period.

What you initially receivesets the base for theamount you will receive forthe rest of your life, though you do receive annual cost-of-living adjustments and,depending on your workhistory, may receive higherbenefits if you continue to work. Here’s an example:

Let’s say your full retire-ment age is 66 and yourmonthly benefit starting atthat age is $1,000. (Seechart.) Selecting benefits atage 62 means your monthlybenefit will be reduced to$750 to account for thelonger period of time youreceive benefits. This isgenerally a permanentreduction in your monthlybenefit. Or, by choosing to wait until age 70, yourmonthly benefit increasesto $1,320. This “delayedretirement credit” is due to your postponing receivingbenefits past your full re-tirement age. The benefit atage 70, in this example, is32 percent more than you would receive per month if you start getting benefits atfull retirement age.

If you die before yourspouse does, he or she maybe eligible for a survivorbenefit based on your work

record, particularly if youhave earned more than your spouse has over yourlifetime. If you begin re-ceiving Social Securitybenefits early, we cannotpay your surviving spouse afull benefit from your re-cord. Also, if you wait untilafter the full retirement ageto get benefits, your surviv-ing spouse – if he or she isat least full retirement age –generally will receive thesame benefit amount that you would have received.

When you reach your fullretirement age, you can work and earn as much as you want and still receive

your full benefit payment. If you are younger than fullretirement age and yourearnings exceed certain

dollar amounts, some of your benefit paymentsduring the year will be withheld. This does not

mean you must limit yourearnings. If we withholdsome benefits because of work, we will pay you ahigher monthly benefit when you reach full retire-ment age. In other words, if you would like to work andearn more than the exemptamount, you should knowthat it will not, on average,reduce the total value of lifetime benefits you re-ceive from Social Security –and may increase them.

After you reach fullretirement age, we willrecalculate your benefitamount to credit you forany month in which youdid not receive some bene-fit because of your earn-ings. As long as you con-tinue to work and receivebenefits, we will check your record every year tosee whether the additionalearnings will increase yourmonthly benefit.

When to start receiving retirement benefitsSocial Security Administration

JOHN LUND/SAM DIEPHUIS Thinkstock

. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Social Securityby the numbers

59 million number ofAmericans who receivedbenefits in 2015

1 million number ofSouth Carolinians whoreceived some kind ofbenefit in 2015

1937 the year the firstbenefit was paid – in alump-sum, onetimepayment

$1,334 average monthlyretirement benefit in SouthCarolina

90% percentage ofindividuals 65 and olderwho receive benefits

Social Security Administration

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


7/16


It’s never too early or too late to savefor your retirement, whether you’re a

young saver or approaching your retire-ment years.

“There are actions you can take to helpboost your retirement readiness at keypoints throughout your life,” says JamieOhl, president of Retirement Plan Servic-es at Lincoln Financial Group.

According to a 2015 Lincoln FinancialGroup M.O.O.D. of America study, 92percent of Americans agree that puttingmoney into a retirement plan, like a401(k), contributes to a more securefinancial future. Ohl and the profession-als at Lincoln are offering retirementsavings tips for various life stages thatcan help all savers take full advantage of their workplace retirement plan andbecome more confident about their re-tirement readiness at every step alongthe way.

GETTINGSTARTED

It may be tempting to spend your newpaycheck exclusively on items you wantor need now, and delay saving for retire-ment altogether at this point. Lincoln’sM.O.O.D. study shows that 78 percent of millennials feel that payments they needto make now, like bills, housing, andother necessities, make it difficult forthem to put money toward their future.

However, your monthly budget shouldinclude a line for retirement savings.

Now is the time to create a habit of con-tributing regularly to your retirementsavings plan at work. As soon as it’s avail-able to you, enroll in your employer-sponsored plan and save at least up to thecompany match. Saving a small butsteady amount early on can compoundover time and pay off down the road.

KEEPING IT UP

Life can get complicated as you getolder. From mortgage and car paymentsto education expenses to raising kids,competing financial priorities can distract

you from retirement savings goals. Resistthe temptation to stop saving altogetheror borrow from your plan. Lincoln’s 2015American Consumer Study shows that 49percent of generation X and younger

baby boomers would like to put moremoney into saving for retirement, butcannot due to present financial con-straints.

Now more than ever, keep up the mo-

mentum. A financial professional canhelp you evaluate your retirement sav-ings picture and identify ways to main-tain savings growth. As you navigate yourcareer and make job changes, be sure toevaluate a potential employer’s benefitsoffering – including a retirement savingsplan – as part of your overall compensa-tion. Learn about what options are avail-able to you, such as a company match,investment choices and other resourcesto help you stay on track and keep a holi-stic view of your savings.

IN THE HOMESTRETCH

At this point, you have done most of the hard work, and the retirement you’veenvisioned is in sight. Continue to saveand set aside extra money from incomeboosts or bonuses. Work with a financialconsultant to reset your savings strategiesand learn about other savings tools likeincome guarantee options that may beavailable in your plan. Familiarize your-self with Social Security benefits, and anyother income sources you’ve secured

throughout your career.For more retirement preparation tips, visit www.lincolnfinancial.com.

Being prepared for retirement requiressome work and planning. For a morecomfortable financial future, don’t delay

your efforts.

Financial advisers: Save forretirement throughout career

StatePoint

MONKEY BUSINESS Fotolia.com

Changing jobs or retiring?What options do you have for your retirement plan assets?

You generally have four options for your retirement plan assets!

1. Roll over your assets into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)

2. Leave your assets in your former employer’s plan, if allowed by the plan3. Move your assets directly to your new employer’s plan, if allowed by the plan

4. Take your money out and pay the associated taxes and, possibly, penalties.

Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages and the one that is best dependson your individual circumstances. You should consider features such as investment choices,fees and expenses, and services offered. Your Financial Advisor can help educate you

regarding your choices so you can decide. Be sure to speak with your current retirement plan

administrator and tax professional before taking any action.

Call us today.

Peter B. Wint

Managing Director – Investments1901 Main Street, Suite 650Columbia, SC 29201Direct: (803) [email protected]://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/peter.wint

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2009, 2014-2016 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved .

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It does not matter whetherit’s unexpected or after alengthy illness. The painfulnumbness one feels after thedeath of a loved one is often-times hard to bear alone. Emo-tional and sometimes financialsupport from family and friendsis essential.

Social Security survivor bene-fits can be key in helping families

after the death of a worker andassure a legacy of hope for or-phans and widows. In fact, survivor benefits can be worth morethan some life insurance policies.In 2015, benefits paid to a surviv-ing spouse on average were$1,285 per month; a survivingspouse with two children re-ceived, on average, $2,647.

In addition to your spouseand minor children, other peo-ple who may qualify for benefits

if you die include your depend-ent parents, your divorcedspouse, and disabled adult chil-dren who were disabled beforeage 22. It’s important that youare aware of these benefits inplanning the financial securityof your family. You shouldknow who can get benefits andhow much. Your family shouldknow how to apply for survivor’s benefits and how work orother sources of income may

affect the benefits they receive.

WHO CAN GET BENEFITS?

Widows or widowers mayreceive full benefits at full re-tirement age or reduced bene-fits as early as age 60 (50 if disabled). A surviving divorcedspouse may qualify for benefitsas long as the marriage lasted10 years.

The surviving divorced wid-ow’s benefit will not affect a

current widow’s benefit. De-pendent children of the de-ceased in a surviving spouse’scare are paid at any age untilthe youngest child reaches age16, or as long as a child who is

disabled before age 22 remainsdisabled.

If you receive survivor bene-fits and you remarry before age60, benefits will generally stop.Remarriage after age 60 willnot prevent you from getting

benefit payments based oneither the deceased spouse’s orcurrent spouse’s work (notboth). At age 62 or older, youshould also inquire about re-ceiving under your personalSocial Security number.Children: Unmarried children younger than 18, or up to 19 if they are still in high schoolfull-time, may receive benefits.Your child can get benefits atany age if he or she was dis-

abled before age 22 and re-mains disabled. Benefits mayalso be paid to your stepchil-dren, adopted children orgrandchildren under certaincircumstances.

Dependent parents: If you arepaying more than one-half sup-port for your parents, they mayalso qualify for benefits when you die if they are age 6 2 orolder.

Perhaps you’ve seen the TVads for life insurance benefitsthat feature an elderly ladydescribing her deceased hus-band’s Social Security survivor’sbenefit as a lump-sum deathpayment, “It’s only $255 – notenough to bury him.” But SocialSecurity’s survivor’s benefitsare a lot more than just a lump-sum payment; payments canamount to hundreds of thou-sands of dollars in some cases.

Should you already receivebenefits as a wife or husband on your spouse’s record, the SocialSecurity Administration willchange your payment to survivor benefits. If you receivebenefits only on your own re-

cord, the agency will check tosee if you can get more as a widow or widower. You’ll needto provide your spouse’s deathcertificate to process your claimunless the funeral director hasalready sent proof of death.

How much a family receivesdepends on the average lifetimeearnings of the deceased. Con-tact the SSA soon after thedeath of the worker becausebenefits may not be retroactive.

WORKANDBENEFITS While most types of income

will not affect your Social Secu-rity checks, there are two typesthat may.A Wages (or self-employment

net earnings) over the annualearnings limit will reduce yoursurvivor benefit. If you are younger than your full retire-ment age, the reduction rate for2016 is $1 in benefits for every$2 in earnings over $15,720. If

you reach full retirement age in2016, your benefits will be re-duced $1 for each $3 you earnover $41,880. The month youreach full retirement age (seefull retirement age ranges at www.socialsecurity.gov), youcan receive full benefits nomatter how much you earn.AYour benefit amount may

be affected if you work in agovernment job that is not cov-ered by Social Security and you

earn your own pension. This iscalled “government pensionoffset,” which means your So-cial Security spouse or survivor’s benefit may be reduced bytwo-thirds of the amount of thegovernment pension.

The chance of collectingsurvivor benefits is greater thanmost people realize. Therefore,it is good to know that virtuallyall workers have Social Securitysurvivor protection.

For information on this im-portant Social Security protec-tion, visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. Youalso can visit your local SocialSecurity office.

Social Security survivor benefitsSocial Security Administration

ANDREA OBZEROVA iS tock

Mid-April features both Ex-Spouse Day and Tax Day. Thesetwo observances are extra impor-tant if you are an ex-spouse be-cause Social Security pays benefitsto eligible former spouses. And

you may need to claim this in-come on your tax forms.

If you are 62 or older, un-married and divorced fromsomeone entitled to Social Secu-rity retirement or disability bene-fits, you may be eligible to re-ceive benefits based on his or herrecord. To be eligible, you musthave been married to your ex-spouse for 10 years or more. If

you have since remarried, youcan’t collect benefits on yourformer spouse’s record unless

your later mar riage ended by

annulment, divorce or death.Also, if you’re entitled to bene-

fits on your own record, yourbenefit amount must be less than

you would receive based on yourex-spouse’s work. In other words,

we’ll pay the higher of the twobenefits for which you’re eligible,but not both.

You can apply for benefits on your ex-spouse’s record even if he or she hasn’t retired, as longas you divorced at least two years

before applying. The same rulesapply for a deceased formerspouse.

The amount of benefits you gethas no effect on the benefits of

your ex-spouse and his or hercurrent spouse. Visit “RetirementPlanner: If You Are Divorced” at,

www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/divspouse.htm tofind all the eligibility require-ments you must meet to apply asa divorced spouse. Our benefits

planner gives you an idea of yourmonthly benefit amount. If yourex-spouse died after you di-

vorced, you can still quality for widow’s benefits. You’ll findinformation about that in a noteat the bottom of the website.

Ex-spouse benefitsand youSocial Security Administration


9/16



10/16

Has Medicare been on yourmind lately? What’s this Part Aand B stuff? And why wouldsomeone get one and not theother? Here are the nuts and

bolts.APart A (hospital insurance)

helps pay for inpatient care in ahospital or skilled nursing facil-ity after a hospital stay, somehome health care, and hospicecare.APart B (medical insurance)

helps pay for doctors’ servicesand many other medical servicesand supplies not covered byhospital insurance.APart C is a Medicare ad-

vantage plan that allows you tochoose your health care cov-erage through a provider organi-zation. You must have Part Aand Part B to enroll in Part C.This plan usually includes Medi-care prescription drug coverageand may include extra benefitsand services at an additionalcost.APart D is prescription drug

coverage. There is a separatemonthly premium for this plan;

however, people with low re-sources and income may qualifyfor extra help with Medicareprescription drug costs fromSocial Security. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp tosee if you qualify.

If you are within four monthsof turning 65 or older, want toreceive Medicare benefits only,plan to delay applying formonthly Social Security benefitsfor four months or longer, and

reside in the United States orone of its territories or common-

wealths, you should considerfiling online (www.socialsecurity.gov). It takes less than10 minutes.

People who already are receiv-ing Social Security retirement ordisability benefits automatically

will be enrolled in Medicare anddo not need to complete theonline application.

When you become eligible toapply for Medicare Part A, youalso have the option of enrollingin Part B for a monthly premi-um. Some people initially decidenot to, but they may rethink that

decision as medical needschange. That’s where enroll-ment periods come into play.

When you become eligible forPart A, you have a seven-monthinitial enrollment period in

which to sign up for Part B. Itbegins three months before your65th birthday and ends threemonths after you turn 65. Afterthe initial enrollment period,

you can only sign up during alater year’s general enrollmentperiod, which is Jan. 1 throughMarch 31. Coverage begins thefollowing July. For most people,the monthly premium increases10 percent for each 12-month

period you were eligible for butdid not enroll in Part B.

Some people pay a higher PartB premium because they have ahigher income. If you have expe-rienced a significant reduction

in your overall income, SocialSecurity might be able to reducethe amount of your MedicarePart B premium as well.

The significant reduction inincome can be due to a numberof changes: marriage, divorce orannulment; death of a spouse;

work reduction; work stoppage;reduction of income due to aloss of income-producing prop-erty; and loss or reduction of

certain forms of pension in-come.

If any of these events hashappened to you, just provideSocial Security evidence of theevent and explain how it has

reduced your income. Evidencecould be a death certificate, aletter from your employer about

your loss of work, or somethingof that nature. If you filed afederal income tax return for the

year in question, we’ll need to

see your signed copy of the doc-uments. If your income will notchange until the following year,

you can estimate what you think your income will be. Once youshow us evidence of the eventand provide proof or an estimateof your reduced income, SocialSecurity will update the recordsand, if appropriate, adjust yourMedicare Part B premium. Youcan request a new decision andask that the agency use more

accurate tax return informationif one of the following is true:AYou amended your tax re-

turn for the year we used todetermine your premium and itchanges the income we count.AYou provide proof from IRS

of an error in the tax returninformation we used to makeour decision.AYour tax filing status for the

year we used to determine yourpremium was “married filing

separately” and you did not live with your spouse at any timeduring that year.

So, if you wish to report asignificant reduction in yourincome so we can adjust yourMedicare Part B premium or

you’re trying to decide when toapply for Medicare, visit our

website at www.socialsecurity.gov and select “Medicare” at thetop of the page on the right side.

You can also call us toll-free at

1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit yourlocal Social Security office.Medicare’s website at

www.medicare.gov has greatinformation, too.

Thinking about Medicare?Here’s what you need to knowSocial Security Administration

RYAN MCVAY Thi nkStock



11/16


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The conceptions andrealities of retirement havechanged a great deal overthe past several decades,giving many seniors mis-givings about the future.But your golden years can

be happy, healthy andproductive, say experts.“For many individuals,

confusion, fear and anoverwhelming sense of powerlessness accompanythe prospect of growing oldin America. The good newsis that we have power toaddress these concerns,”says Scott Page, author of the new book “It’s NeverToo Late: Getting Older,

Wiser, and Worry-Free in

our Golden Years.”Are you retired or ap-

proaching the end of your working life? Are you con-cerned about an older pa-rent or loved one? Here,Page offers expert tips onliving better:

LIVING IDEAS

Reducing housing ex-penses can have an extraupside. For example, down-

sizing your empty nestoffers you the benefit of less house to maintain.Moving to a region of thecountry cheaper than yourcurrent area may take yousomewhere sunnier, warm-er and better suited foraging.

Another popular way tolive more frugally is to con-sider taking on a roommate.“Co-living arrangements

like the ‘The Golden Girls’are becoming more popular with single or widowedseniors. It helps save moneyand can be beneficial forsocialization and support,”says Page.

MAKE MONEYYou can rake in extra

income that doesn’t feellike work. Review yourtalents and hobbies. Are

you an excellent baker, atalented woodworker ormusician?

“Seniors often have a lotof time on their hands, andthey may be able to trans-form hobbies or interestsinto a way to make a littlemoney,” says Page, whopoints out that such activ-ities can also be an excel-lent way to stay engaged

and active, keeping mindsand bodies vibrant.

SAVING TIPSDon’t be shy about using

the age card. After all, youhave worked hard for it.Senior discounts are avail-able at restaurants, stores,on travel, adult educationclasses and gym member-ships, and sites like Restau-rant.com or Groupon have

special bargain days forseniors.You can also save by

eliminating unnecessaryexpenses. For example – do

you still need that landlinetelephone? Can you bundle

certain services to helpreduce costs?

Do an inventory of yourpossessions to determine

which objects to keep and which to discard or sell.Free worksheets, availableat scottpage.com/free-tools, can help you makesmart decisions.

CONNECTWITHFRIENDS

Consider planning meals with a support network.

“Maybe Sally takes Mon-day nights, Judy takes

Wednesday nights andSarah takes Friday nights,”says Page. “Cooking formore than one person en-courages community, andcan be cost-effective if everyone is sharing in theresponsibility.”

Maintain an active socialmedia presence online tostay connected to friendsand family. Those with thesame interests as you are

just a mouse click away.

More information aboutthe book can be found at www.scottpage.com.

With smart strategies youcan free yourself from

worry about aging, whilegetting wiser over time.

4 tips to live better

in retirement

PRESSMASTER Fotolia.com

StatePoint

There are about 76.4 million babyboomers in the U.S., according to thePopulation Reference Bureau. As thispopulation ages, it will become impor-tant that features on their houses pro-mote safety, are easy-to-maintain, andlast a long time.

Whether building from the ground upor remodeling a current home, take“aging in place” into consideration everystep of the way. Here are some greatprojects to consider with strong payback.

A BETTER BASEMENT When building a new home, choose

your foundation carefully. Not only is anuninsulated basement a source of heatloss, but it’s throwing away space that canenhance your life. A liveable basementcan be designated as a “grandkid zone,” ahome office or a crafting workshop.

You can use a pre-cast insulated con-crete foundation system, such thosefrom Superior Walls, to create an ener-gy-efficient damp-proof basement. Thisfoundation will help reduce utility billsfor long-term savings. Reinforced con-crete walls create a permanent barrieragainst water, and pre-engineered access

for wiring or plumbing features are a keyelement to whatever vision you have forthis subterranean space.

FIRST-FLOORPRIVACYMany seniors opt to spend more of

their time at home on the easy-to-navi-

gate ground floor. But don’t compromiseprivacy in pursuit of accessibility.

Privacy windows can alleviate concerns you have about neighbors seeing you goabout your business. For example, thosefrom Hy-Lite are offered in numerousstyles and designs, including opaque deco-rative glass, acrylic block and true glassblock windows. Silkscreen glass designscan complement the overall style of thehome. From your master suite to yourbathroom to the main rooms of yourhome, avoid prying eyes with this crucialcomponent of stylish first-floor living.

SAFE, COMFORTABLE BATHROOMSAs mobility and coordination decline,

slips and falls can make bathrooms ahazardous place. Think of the years aheadby seeking bathroom features compliant

with the Americans with Disabilities Act.“Taller toilets that are easier to rise

from, pedestal sinks that allow wheel-chairs and walkers access, and walk-intubs that promote easy entries and exits,are all bathroom features people mayneed as they age,” says Jean Dimeo, acertified aging in place specialist.

Brands like Mansfield Plumbing areaccommodating the boomer population byoffering selections of SmartHeight toilets,

pedestal, under counter and wall mountedsinks. A popular product, Restore walk-intubs, come with whirlpool and inline heat-er options to sooth aching muscles and

joints. With many high-design fixtures andfittings available, a safe bathroom doesnot need to be just a utilitarian one.

PROVIDED PHOTO StatePoint

A walk-in tub, pedestal sink and raised-height toilet are key bathroom safety features.

Home design tips for baby boomers

StatePoint


13/16


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mentor

1835Assembly St., Ste 1425,Columbia SC 29201

www.midlands.score.org • 803-765-5131 • email: [email protected]

DOYOU LIKEHELPING PEOPLE’S

DREAMSCOMETRUE?

DOYOU

HAVE BUSINESS

EXPERTISE

YOU’D LIKETO

SHARE?

The Benefits of Volunteering:

• Enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to the success of others

• Share great experience with other SCORE volunteers

• Provide leadership in the business community • Gain recognition and respect as a business mentor

• Grow professionally and personally • Make new friends • Participate in lifelong learning

As a SCORE VolunteerYou Can:

• Share your success and expertise

through mentoring• Lead workshops and seminars

• Provide online or telephone mentoringdirectly from your home or office

• Serve in a leadership capacity with SCORE

• Serve within other capacity at SCORE(marketing,IT, administration, finance,fundraising, HR,etc.)

• Have flexibility with your volunteering time

The FriendShip is a non-profit organization that offersprograms and services to its members who are age 50and over, who wish - and are able - to age-in-place.

Seeking volunteers and members!

Call 803-799-2919 x122 or visitwww.thefriendship.org for more information.

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Helping Seniors Stay HomeOwned by the author of The Caregiver’s Training Program

803-791-9115 • seniorsfirsthomecare.com

If you receive Social Security benefits,one of the documents you will need whenfiling your federal income tax return is

your Social Security Benefit Statement(Form SSA-1099).

Your Social Security benefits may betaxable. This includes monthly retirement,survivor and disability benefits. Aboutone-third of people receiving benefits must

pay taxes on some of these benefits, de-pending on their amount of taxable in-come. Usually, tax is due only if you haveother substantial income – such as wages,self-employment, interest, dividends, andother income that must be reported on

your tax return – in addition to your bene-fits. You will never have to pay taxes onmore than 85 percent of your Social Securi-ty benefits, based on Internal RevenueService rules.

To find out whether you must paytaxes on your benefits, you will need your

Social Security Benefit Statement (FormSSA-1099). You should automaticallyreceive your 1099 form each January. Itshows the total benefits you receivedfrom Social Security in the previous yearso you know how much Social Securityincome to report to the IRS. The 1099form is not available for people who re-ceive Supplemental Security Income, asSSI payments are not taxable.

You can get an instant replacement1099 form quickly and easily by using yoursecure online My Social Security account.

If you don’t already have an account, youcan create one in minutes. Follow the linkto the My Social Security page, and go to

“Sign In” or “Create an Account.” Once you are logged in, select the “ReplacementDocuments” tab to obtain your replace-ment 1099 form. If you create a My Social

Security account, you can also use it tokeep track of your earnings each year,manage your benefits and more.

You can also obtain a replacement1099 form by calling us at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Fri-day, or by contacting your local SocialSecurity office. If you live outside of theUnited States, please contact your near-est U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

With a my Social Security account,gathering your Social Security informa-tion for tax season has never been easier.

Open your personal My Social Securityaccount today at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Navigating tax forms for

Social Security benefitsSocial Security Administration

CREATAS ThinkStock


14/16


Since your parents have done a lot for you over your lifetime, this is the perfecttime of year to return the favor by helpingthem find their “someday” at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

In May, we honor mothers on Mother’sDay, and in June, we thank our fathers onFather’s Day. In July, we get to show ourappreciation for both. Parents’ Day, cele-brated on July 27, is a great time to make

sure your parents take the necessary steps tohave a comfortable “someday” in retirement.

Even if they’re still young, it’s never tooearly to help your parents start planning fortheir retirement or help them imagine whattheir “Someday” might look like. When youask them about their retirement plans,encourage each of them to open their ownsecure My Social Security accounts at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It’squick, easy and free to do!

My Social Security features several toolsto guide your parents through the retire-

ment process, whether they’re just startingto think about it or they’re already retired.Before retiring, your parents can view theirSocial Security Statement to verify the ac-curacy of their earnings records and findout what benefits they can expect to receiveat age 62, full retirement age, and at age70. They can also get personalized benefitestimates using the Retirement Estimatorat www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. TheEstimator shows different scenarios, in-cluding how future wage changes or al-ternate retirement dates will affect their

future benefits.Once your parents have retired and are

receiving Social Security benefits, they canuse their accounts to:ACheck benefit information.AGet an instant letter with proof of their

benefits.AChange their address and phone number.AGet a replacement SSA-1099.AGet a replacement Medicare card.AStart or change their direct deposit or

electronic payment method.Retirement is a big life change, so let

your parents know you’ll be there for them just as th ey’ve been there for you! When you help them sign up for My Social Securi-ty at www.socialsecurity/myaccount, you’re showing that their “someday”means something to you.

Help parentsplan ‘someday’Social Security Administration

environment, living withstrangers,” says health caresystems expert Jack Zhang,President and CEO of thefast-growing health tech-nology company, Vitall Inc.

Caring for older parentsand relatives doesn’t neces-sarily need to involve reloca-tion or spending tens of thou-sands of dollars annually.Zhang says there are a fewimportant things to consider.

TECHUPDATES

New technologies makelooking after and stayingconnected to the seniors in your life easier and moreaffordable. For example,HeyMomDad, the world’sfirst two-way communicationand wellness monitoringsystem, allows loved ones tosee and hear in real time thatelderly relatives are safe –

simply by opening an app ontheir smartphones.

Seniors need only press onebutton to talk to loved ones,notify them that help is need-ed, or to just say hello. Like-

It can be difficult for fam-ilies when an elderly lovedone starts to weaken physical-ly and mentally. While nursinghomes are an option, most areextremely expensive, andmost seniors would prefer toremain in familiar surround-ings. Fortunately, there arenow more choices availablethat can provide seniors the

freedom to continue livingsafely in their own home.

The average cost of anassisted living facility is$43,200 annually, and thecost of a nursing home withprivate room can top $90,000a year, according to the 2015Genworth Cost of Care Sur- vey. Such a huge, ongoingexpense can impact the aver-age family, whether they haveprepared financially or not.

“Even for families wheresuch costs are not prohib-itive, parents are often reluc-tant to leave homes filled with years of memories, andbe placed into an unfamiliar

wise, with one tap, users caninstantly see, hear and talkback to parents through thehigh-quality HD video andtwo-way audio component.The camera can be controlledthrough the smartphone anddirected to any location in theroom, permitting a 270-de-gree view. It also includesnight vision optics for clear viewing in dark rooms.

BEYONDMONITORING“Most seniors are reluctant

to call 911 in an emergencybecause they’re embarrassedor don’t want to cause a fussor incur an expense – whichcan be as high as $1,200,even for false alarms whereparamedics were dis-patched,” says Zhang.

HeyMomDad gives seniorstwo different alert options.They can choose to alert only

family and friends, or alertfamily, friends and 911. Inaddition, the HeyMomDadBed Monitor tracks heartrate, breathing rate andmovement at night.

STAYING INDEPENDENT

For many seniors, one of the most difficult parts of aging is loss of independence.

When possible, familiesshould consider makinghomes senior friendly, add-ing safety bars in the showerand bath, eliminating trip-ping hazards, improvinglighting in hallways and out-door walkways, and makingkitchens more accessible with countertops and cabi-nets that can rise or lower with the push of a button.

And new two-way commu-nication and monitoringsystems can add furtherpeace of mind. More in-formation can be found at www.HeyMomDad.com or1-800-352-0887.

Before making big decisionsabout your parents and agingrelatives’ housing and care,take new innovations intoconsideration. These alterna-tives can save your familythousands of dollars, give youpeace of mind and improve your family’s quality of life.

PROVIDED PHOTO StatePoint

Caring for older relativesStatePoint


15/16


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Active! Your Best Life after 50

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Transcript of Active! Your Best Life after 50