All Posts in "The Senior Scene"

As Trump dives into Social Security, concern about what lies ahead

(Pictured: President Donald Trump is eyeing big changes within the Social Security Administration.)

By Taylor Shurman

With the Trump administration making big changes at the Social Security Administration (SSA), many older adults are increasingly concerned about what these developments mean for their benefits. The February announcement of a significant “organizational realignment” at SSA has brought renewed attention to the program’s future as the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) begins its work across federal agencies.

Any changes to the program create uncertainty, especially for the millions who rely on Social Security income. To better understand their concerns, Seniorliving.org conducted a wide-reaching study of older and younger American adults. The survey asked whether they’re confident in the program’s future and what policy changes they expect in the next four years as DOGE dives into the agency.

Expectations about Trump’s impact on Social Security differed among age groups. Overall, 51 percent of respondents to the survey believe Trump’s policies will hurt Social Security, while 30 percent expect them to have a positive impact. Among older adults (60-plus years old), 37 percent think his policies will improve the program—more than any other age group. Meanwhile, 60 percent of adults aged 30 to 44 expect a negative impact, making them the most skeptical.

When survey participants were asked to explain why they felt positive or negative, their opinions fell into a few categories. Many who felt optimistic believed Trump’s economic policies could strengthen the program through job growth and increased revenue, while his promises to protect benefits reassured them. Some saw possibilities in congressional collaboration and considered proposals like benefit tax cuts or limited privatization as beneficial reforms that could enhance financial freedom for retirees and improve investment returns.

Many who felt the Trump administration would negatively impact Social Security feared potential benefit reductions that would harm vulnerable populations, and they worried that Trump might prioritize the interests of wealthier Americans at the expense of the program’s financial stability. Some questioned whether the administration truly understands the importance of Social Security to the average American. They expressed anxiety about unpredictable policy shifts that could undermine this critical safety net for millions of retirees and people with disabilities.

Early in his second term, President Trump announced a plan to cut payroll taxes, which could increase workers’ paychecks but eliminate a key funding source for Social Security. Experts warn this could push the program closer to running out of full funding, possibly resulting in earlier benefit cuts.

If this plan goes into effect, Social Security could run out of full funding three years earlier than expected—moving the insolvency date from 2034 to 2031, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Cutting payroll taxes would also create a $2.3 trillion budget gap over the next 10 years and force a 33 percent benefit cut by 2035 instead of the 23 percent reduction in scheduled benefits currently expected under existing law.

Beyond the payroll tax cut, Americans believed Trump might make other changes to Social Security during his term. Sixty percent of Americans in the study believe the Trump administration will attempt to raise the retirement age, which would be a controversial plan. Another 52 percent expect reductions in the amount of benefits for recipients.

Raising the retirement age isn’t a new idea. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that increasing it to 70 could help keep Social Security funded longer. Still, it would hit lower-income workers harder since they depend more on these benefits.

History shows that Social Security reforms are politically challenging. Past proposals to raise the retirement age or cut benefits have met strong public opposition. In 2005, President George W. Bush’s attempt at partial privatization failed due to bipartisan resistance. Even if Trump pushes for changes, major reforms won’t happen without Congress’s support.

Some argue that Social Security spending is unsustainable and that a massive overhaul is needed. DOGE, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been set up to cut waste and streamline federal programs, including Social Security. Musk has claimed that SSA is riddled with fraud  and must be thoroughly audited to reduce government spending.

While DOGE supporters say it could reduce government inefficiencies, some fear it could be used to justify significant Social Security cuts. The seniorlist.org survey results show mixed opinions on DOGE: Older adults were slightly more likely to support it, but more respondents opposed the idea than favored it overall. Among those 60 and older, 42 percent viewed DOGE favorably, but nearly half opposed it. Younger adults were the most doubtful, with 60 percent of those under 30 and 63 percent of those 30 to 44 viewing DOGE negatively.

Recent developments confirm DOGE’s involvement with the SSA. On Feb. 21, SSA announced an “organizational realignment” of its Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight, which has overseen SSA’s anti-fraud efforts. Those services have been moved to other parts of the agency.

SSA also announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 7,000 employees, which would leave a total of about 50,000 workers nationally.

Critics of personnel reductions have said less staff and office closures will make it harder for people to access Social Security services, apply for benefits, and resolve issues. If the cuts continue, long wait times and service disruptions could get worse. 

Source: Seniorliving.org, which provides information and research on topics affecting older adults.

The Senior Scene by — April 1, 2025 in News
A wine guide for Passover

(For the Seder, a dinner at which the story of Passover is told, wine is the star of the show in many homes.)

The Jewish holiday of Passover, which this year begins at sundown on April 12 and ends at nightfall on April 20, is an eight-day holiday celebrated with festive meals in which no leavened bread can be consumed, substituted with matzah. Part of the celebration includes the Seder, a dinner at which the story of Passover is told, commemorating the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt and their ultimate exodus to freedom. 

During the meal, adults consume four cups of wine, pouring out a portion to symbolize the Ten Plagues that befell Egypt during the time of the Exodus.

In many homes today, wine is the star of the Passover show. And with a wide selection of award-winning kosher wines available from the best wine-producing regions of the world, there’s a great Passover wine for every palate and budget. 

Jay Buchsbaum, Royal Wine’s vice president and director of wine education, noted the kosher wine industry “has seen many trends in recent years, with incredible growth and industry accolades.” They include:

  • Increased variety. The range of kosher wines has expanded significantly, with more varieties, shades, and flavors to choose from. White, sparkling, and rosé wines are especially popular. 
  • More kosher brands. 
  • The emergence of kosher micro-wineries in Israel, often founded in people’s garages. These small, family-owned wineries are all-kosher.
  • Organic and sustainable wines. Some kosher wineries are certified for organic grapes, sustainability, and carbon footprint. 
  • Many more kosher-keeping consumers drink wine now than in the past. 
  • Higher quality. Kosher wines have evolved from cloyingly sweet to well-balanced and complex.  

“Kosher wine is made with the same fermenting process as traditional wine but only uses kosher-certified ingredients. The creation of kosher wine must be supervised and conducted by Sabbath-observant Jews,” said Buchsbaum.

According to Buchsbaum, here’s what to look for when buying kosher wines for Passover: Check the label to confirm if the wine is mevushal or non-mevushal. Make sure the wine is kosher for Passover, which means it has been supervised and prepared in a certain way. Check that all ingredients, including yeasts and fining agents, are kosher. And make sure no preservatives or artificial ingredients are used.

The Senior Scene by — April 1, 2025 in Food, People
There’s always room to grow tomatoes

(Pictured: If gardening space is limited, grow tomatoes in hanging baskets or containers.)

By Melinda Myers

Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. Keep them close at hand by growing one or more in containers on your patio, balcony, or front steps.

Any tomato can be grown in a pot, but determinate varieties are shorter and more compact, making them a bit easier to manage in a container. They produce fruit in a relatively short time, making them great or preserving as well as using fresh. Look for a D or determinate on the plant tag, seed packet, or in the catalog description. 

Indeterminate tomatoes, often designated with an I, are usually much taller and continue to grow, flower, and produce fruit until frost kills the plant or you pinch out the growing tip. These are usually staked or grown in wire cages to save space, reduce pest problems, and make harvesting easier. Many new containers have built-in trellises, or creative gardeners craft their own, making it easier and more attractive to grow these bigger plants in pots. 

Semi-determinate varieties are in between these two. They are compact like determinates, often trailing, but produce fruit throughout the growing season like indeterminate varieties. 

You can find compact varieties often sold as miniature and dwarf plants that grow well in 4-inch to 8-inch pots. They are a great option for those with limited space, gardening on balconies, indoors in a sunny window or just about anywhere. Kitchen Mini tomatoes, Heartbreakers, Red Velvet, and Micro Tom Thumb are just a few.

The growing process

Grow one tomato per container for maximum productivity. Use a 5-gallon or bigger container for large varieties and at least a two to three gallon or similar size pot for smaller varieties.  Some research suggests a pot that is at least 14 inches but preferably 20 inches wide will yield greater results. Adding flowers and herbs to the container boosts the beauty and diversity of your container garden but will reduce the number of tomatoes produced.

Growing tomatoes in containers also allows you to start the season earlier. Just move the planter inside when the weather is harsh and back outside when the weather is warm and sunny. As the weather turns cold at the end of the growing season, cover the planter or move it into a frost-free location as needed. Some gardeners even move a pot or two inside to finish off the tomato season.

Plant tomatoes in a container with drainage holes and fill it with a quality potting mix. Reduce the time spent watering with a self-watering pot that has a reservoir to hold water and extend the time between watering. Further reduce the need to water by adding an organic, sustainable soil amendment like certified organic Wild Valley Farms’ wool pellets (wildvalleyfarms.com) to the potting mix. Made from wool waste, this product reduces watering by up to 25 percent.

Water thoroughly when the top few inches begin to dry. Mulch the soil with evergreen needles, shredded leaves, or other organic mulch to keep the soil consistently moist and suppress weeds.  Consistent soil moisture encourages more flowering and fruiting, while reducing the risk of blossom end rot, cracking, and misshapen fruit. 

Harvest tomatoes when fully colored or leave them on the plant a few more days for an even sweeter flavor. You’ll enjoy their use in salads, sauces, and other favorite recipes.

Melinda Myers (melindmyers.com) is the author of more than 20 gardening books, host of the “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series. and a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine.

The Senior Scene by — April 1, 2025 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures
Sheriffs with positions on deporting immigrants include Pierce County’s

(Pictured: Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank says his agency is “obligated to honor applicable federal detainers.”

By Moe K. Clark and Farah Eltohamy

President Donald Trump has identified state and local law enforcement agencies as being pivotal in his plans to deport millions of undocumented people from the U.S. But the extent of how his undertaking will play out on the ground remains unclear, especially in Washington and other “sanctuary states” that have local laws prohibiting such collaborations.

Washington’s “sanctuary law,” formally called the Keep Washington Working Act, restricts the extent to which local law enforcement agencies may participate in federal immigration enforcement actions. The law prohibits the use of county jails for immigrant detention and doesn’t allow local law enforcement to interview or detain those suspected of being an undocumented immigrant. 

In a survey by InvestigateWest and Cascade PBS, the majority of Washington sheriffs said they would focus their resources on public safety and local laws, not federal immigration enforcement. 

“We recognize that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and not a part of my elected office or sworn duty. Therefore, we focus our resources and efforts on local law enforcement matters just as we have always done,” Pacific County Sheriff Daniel C. Garcia wrote. “We will not detain or arrest individuals solely based on suspected immigration violations.”

But some responses were less clear-cut. 

“The Pierce County Sheriff Office will abide by all enforceable U.S. immigration laws and legal mandates,” wrote Sheriff Keith Swank, who took office Jan. 15 after being elected last November. “Law enforcement agencies are obligated to honor applicable federal detainers. I believe there will be more legal guidance in the near future.” 

In the same vein, Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete said in his statement that while his office is aware of the Keep Washington Working Act, his office “will not impede federal operations,” providing no further clarification.

While other local law enforcement agencies across the country have formal agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under a federal program that allows jails to be used for immigrant detention, Washington doesn’t have any such formal agreements. 

Still, nothing is stopping federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials from conducting immigration raids or arrests in Washington or tapping local law enforcement to help if the person of interest is suspected of committing a crime – which could be as simple as a traffic violation.

InvestigateWest and Cascade PBS reached out to all of Washington’s 39 county sheriffs and asked how they plan to balance conflicting local, state, and federal laws. Nine county sheriffs didn’t respond to multiple requests for comments, and nine others didn’t respond tospecific questions, instead forwarding a statement released by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs last December. Our questions:

  1. What role does the sheriff’s office believe local law enforcement should play in federal immigration enforcement?
  2. Will the sheriff’s office change or modify any of its policies or procedures related to immigration enforcement, while still complying with the state’s Keep Washington Working Act?
  3. Anything else you’d like to add?

While no sheriffs said they would work hand and hand with federal immigration enforcement, Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer, who considers himself a “constitutional sheriff” and didn’t respond to our requests, posted a video on Facebook on Dec. 11, telling federal ICE officials to “put me on speed dial.”

Source: Cascade PBS and Investigate West, which are non-profit journalism sites.

RELATED STORY: PIERCE EXECUTIVE SETS POLICY FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

In response to questions arising from federal policy changes and actions regarding immigration enforcement, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello issued an executive directive March 25 that he said creates guidelines and procedures for county employees. 

Mello said the directive ensures executive-branch departments of county government share guidance for how to comply with state and federal immigration enforcement laws. Federal law makes immigration enforcement is the sole responsibility of the federal government, and a Washington state law limits local governments’ participation in federal immigration enforcement.
The state law requires public schools, health facilities, courts, and law enforcement agencies to ensure that they are safe and accessible for all Washington residents, regardless of immigration or citizenship status. Under Mello’s order, Pierce County’s executive departments will interact with federal law enforcement to ensure legally required requests, such as judicial warrants, are responded to properly. The order doesn’t apply to other county government agencies headed by elected officials.  
The Senior Scene by — April 1, 2025 in News