Senior
Spotlight
By John Toscano

Is SS Benefit Hike For
2001 What It Should Be?

Although Social Security recipients will get a 3.5 percent increase in benefits beginning in January, the largest COLA increase since 1992, some people still question whether it’s what seniors are entitled to.

The good news also had a downside to it because the federal government is also increasing the Medicare premium by $4.50 from $45.50 to $50 starting Jan. 1st.

Also under the new payment schedules announced by the Social Security Administration last week, the maximum monthly payment for low-income individuals receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income) will also rise by 3.5 percent, from $512 to $530; for a couple the maximum payment will increase from $769 to $796.

The annual COLA, or Cost of Living Adjustment, is based on the Consumer Price Index, which tracks costs of food, drugs and other items people regularly purchase. for years, United States Senator Patrick Moynihan (D–N.Y.) has complained that using the price index doesn’t accurately measure the expenditures of seniors because so much of their income pays for high-priced prescription drugs, for instance.

If seniors’ expenditures were more accurately measured, it would bring COLA to a higher percentage and result in a larger, but more accurate, increase in Social Security payments, the critics say.

As for the Medicare premium, it was expected to rise because the government is restoring money to Medicare that was reduced several years ago. Payments to hospitals and HMOs that were reduced at that time will be paid back now.

President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress are bickering over how the restored funds should be allocated. The president has said he will veto a bill passed by Congress because it gives too much of the money to HMOs. The president contends that many HMOs are already paid too much by Medicare.

Besides restoring funds that were reduced in the past, the HMOs that administer Medicare programs may be getting an increase in future payments because, they claim, what they are presently receiving is not enough to cover their costs.

SENIOR OLYMPICS: The Senior Olympics, formally the Winter National Senior Games, will be held in 2002 at Lake Placid, New York, it was announced last week. About 2,000 senior athletes from all 50 states are expected to participate in the event to be held the week of Jan. 4th-11th.

In the 2000 games, male and female senior athletes ranging in age from 50 to 99 and beyond, competed in alpine skiing, slalom, giant slalom, cross country skiing, curling, ice hockey and snowshoeing, according to the National Senior Games Association.

In 2002, speed skating and figure skating (singles and dance), will be added to the lineup. The 2000 senior games were also held in Lake Placid in the Adirondacks, marking the first time such games were held anywhere.

ALZHEIMER’S CENTER: Fran Staples, program manager of the Builders for the Family and Youth (BFFY) of Catholic Charities, invites members of the community to join support groups for caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients at BFFY’s Alzheimer’s Adult Day Care Center 157-16 65th Ave., Flushing. Groups meet Tuesdays from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. and Wednesdays from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. and also from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The center is open five days a week, Monday through Friday. For information, call (718) 358-3541.

Laurie Klein–Evans, a social worker at the center, says the program "provides those in our community with Alzheimer’s Disease or related disorders the opportunity to socialize and participate in therapeutic and recreational activities."

LEGION BREAKFAST: Thomas Ruehle, of Ridgewood, Queens County American Legion Commander, and John Severa of Forest Hills, the organization’s Legislative Chairman, will host the Legion’s annual legislative breakfast this Saturday, Oct. 28th, at Broad Channel Post 1404, 209 Crossbay Blvd., Broad Channel.

All of Queens’ federal and state lawmakers and candidates in the Nov. 7th elections have been invited to discuss issues and legislation concerning the American veteran.

There are 39 American Legion posts in Queens with a total of 6,000 service veteran members.