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SAVVY SENIOR

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

How are Social Security benefits handled when someone dies? After a long illness, my 68-year-old father has only weeks left to live. I’m helping my mom figure out her financial situation going forward, including what to do about my dad’s Social Security after he passes away.

Only Son

Dear Only,

I’m very sorry about the impending loss of your father. To help you and your mom understand what Social Security provides and what needs to be done when a family member dies, here are some key points.

Your first order of business will be to make sure the Social Security Administration is notified when your father dies, so his monthly benefits will be stopped. In most cases, the funeral home providing his burial or cremation services will do it. You’ll need to provide your dad’s Social Security number to the funeral director so they can make the report. But, if they don’t offer that service or you’re not using a funeral home, you’ll need to do it yourself by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213.

There are a couple of things to be aware of regarding your dad’s benefits. For starters, a person is due no Social Security benefits in the month of their death. With Social Security, each payment received represents the previous month’s benefits. So, if your dad were to pass away in August, the check for that month – which would be paid in September – would need to be returned if received. If the payment is made by direct deposit, you would need to contact the bank or other financial institution and ask them to return any benefits sent after your dad’s death.

Survivor benefits.

When your father passes away, your mother may be eligible for survivor benefits on his record if she’s at least age 60 (50 if disabled). Here’s how that works depending on her situation:

If your mom is currently receiving Social Security benefits based on your father’s work record, her spousal benefit will automatically convert to survivor benefits when the government gets notice of your dad’s death. She can’t receive spousal and survivor benefits at the same time.

Widows are due between 71 percent (at age 60) and 100 percent (at full retirement age) of what the husband was getting before he died.

If, however, your mom is eligible for retirement benefits (but hasn’t applied yet), she can apply for retirement or survivor benefits when her husband passes away and switch to the other (higher) benefit later. Or, if your mom is already receiving her retirement benefits on her own work record, she could switch to survivor benefits if it offers a higher payment. She can’t, however, receive both benefits.

To apply for survivor benefits, your mom will need to call Social Security at 800-772-1213 and schedule an appointment. She can’t do it online.

You should also know that survivor benefits are available to former spouses and dependents who meet SSA qualifications – see SSA.gov/benefits/survivors.

Also note that if your mom collects a survivor benefit while working, and she’s under full retirement age, her benefits may be reduced depending on her earnings. See SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-10069.pdf for details.

Death benefit.

In addition to survivor benefits, Social Security will also pay a one-time payment of $255 to your mom (the surviving spouse) if she was living with your dad at the time of his death. If they were living apart, she may still receive this one-time payment if she’s collecting spousal benefits on his work record. In the absence of a surviving spouse, the lump-sum payment can go to a son or daughter who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s work record.

Jim Miller is a contributor to NBC’s “Today” and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Send questions to him at Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or at savvysenior.org.

The Senior Scene by — February 7, 2024 in Personal Finance/Consumers
‘Boom’ goes The Sonics. Again.

A Northwest rock music legend is relived with theatrical release of film

They pounded their way out of Tacoma and to the top of Northwest rock bands in the 1960s with a music style that eventually earned them legendary status as pioneers of the much-later punk rock movement. 

They were The Sonics, named for the booming noise of jets out of then-McChord Air Force Base and known for a hard-edged sound that gained fans nationally (despite never having a number 1 hit song in the U.S.) and worldwide.

Unlike other garage-bands of their era, the group avoided fading into total obscurity. Helping preserve their legacy, and possibly growing it, is the theatrical release this year of a film that chronicles the band’s rise and tells some of its untold story.

“Boom,” by Whidbey Island filmmaker Jordan Albertsen, is scheduled for a limited release in theaters across North America in 20 market areas in the first quarter of 2024, following gala premieres in Seattle and Los Angeles. The latter will be accompanied by tribute performances of The Sonics’ music, promoters said.

The distribution is being managed by The Forge, an agency headed by Mark Sayre, a producer and director of the annual Vashon Island Film Festival.

Sayre said Albertsen “put painstaking effort” into making the 78-minute film “an engaged, participatory audience experience” that includes interviews with the members of famed Northwest rock bands Pearl Jam, Heart, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, and has been featured in film festivals from Tacoma to Bremen, Norway, and Greece.

The Sonics’ saga is one of a raw band that went from playing modest gigs at roller rinks and teenage dances at places like Curtis High School in University Place, to headlining major Seattle-area venues such as the Spanish Castle Ballroom and opening for major touring acts at the Seattle Coliseum.

The Sonics’ original songs included “The Witch,” the lynchpin in winning a record-label contract for the band, and “Have Love Will Travel,” which Land Rover licensed in 2004 for a car commercial on television.

British author Vernon Joynson once wrote that The Sonics “exuded a surly demeanor and created one of the rawest, toughest garage sounds.” He also noted the Kinks and the Sex Pistols “have acknowledged The Sonics’ influence on their own music.”

With a caustic sound that limited radio airplay of its songs, The Sonics nevertheless experienced on-and-off longevity after forming in 1960. They released their debut album in 1965 and broke up in the late ‘60s, only to reunite briefly in 1972 and then again in 2007-08, this time longer-term for performances and recording that led to an international concert tour in England Spain, Norway and Belgium, as well as New York and Seattle.

The band’s breakups were fueled by life turns for the members—Larry Parya, Andy Parypa, Rob Lind, Bobby Bennett, and Jerry Roslie. There were returns to college in an effort to avoid the Vietnam War draft, non-music jobs such as commercial pilot, insurance sales, school teacher, and asphalt paving, time spent playing with other bands, and health issues.

Albertsen said he hopes his film’s circuit this year will generate new notoriety for the band, making making “2024 the year of The Sonics.”

The Senior Scene by — January 31, 2024 in Spotlight
Schools, minimum wage on some ballots

A special election Feb. 13 will have voters in school districts in Pierce and King counties and deciding school funding measures and a minimum-wage proposal in one King County city.

The school districts in Pierce County include Clover Park, Puyallup, Tacoma, Sumner-Bonney Lake, Eatonville, Auburn, Carbonado, Orting, and Yelm.

The county elections department mailed ballots to voters Jan. 26.  Feb. 13 is the date when voters must submit their ballots by mail or in official dropboxes. Dropbox locations and other election-related information, including specifics about the ballot measures, is available at piercecountyelections.org and (253) 798-7430.

In King County, ballots and voters’ pamphlets were mailed Jan. 24 to voters in the Auburn, Tahoma, Tukwila, and Vashon Island school districts, and to voters in Renton, which has an initiative that would create a minimum wage for jobs in the city. More information is available from the county’s elections department at kingcounty.gov and 206-296-8683.

The Senior Scene by — January 31, 2024 in News
Stay active and exercise inside when it’s cold outside

By Meredith Bailey

When the temperature drops, the lure of “hibernation,” snuggling under a blanket and reading a book or watching a favorite TV show is hard to resist. We all need a little rest and relaxation to recharge, yet too much time spent with our feet up isn’t good for the body or the mind — even when it’s cold outside.

“Your health doesn’t take a vacation during the winter months,” said Jenn Ropp, diabetes education and nutrition program coordinator at MultiCare Health System. “Staying active can help you maintain a healthy weight, keep your blood sugar levels within a normal range, and support your mental health and well-being.”

Regular exercise can also help protect your body from injury.

“During the winter months, we see a lot of slips and falls due to icy conditions,” said Allison Blumenthal, a sports orthopedic surgeon at MultiCare Integrated Sports Medicine. “The more you’re able to maintain your core strength, the less likely you are to fall and the less extensive your injuries are likely to be if you do fall.”

While the benefits of maintaining fitness year-round are many, staying active when the chill sets in can be a challenge. Pacific Northwest winters aren’t always amenable to many outdoor activities. Here are tips to keep yourself motivated and your body active.

Come up with a plan. 

Without some forethought, exercise can slip down or completely fall off your to-do list.

“Don’t just say ‘I’m going to work out some time today.’ Decide on a specific time that you’re going to exercise, what you’re going to do and what you need — clothing or equipment, for example,” said Annie Doyle, senior health and well-being director at YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. “You’re more likely to exercise consistently if you’re prepared and it’s built into your schedule.”

Make it fun. 

Exercise shouldn’t be drudgery. Try new activities until you find ones you like, and switch them up so you don’t get bored.

“You’re more likely to stick to something if you enjoy it and actually look forward to doing it,” said Blumenthal. “Maybe that’s doing Pilates in your living room or simply cranking up the music and dancing — whatever type of movement brings you joy.”

Set goals. 

Fitness goals can help us stay motivated, but not just any goal will do. “Setting short-term, achievable goals that you can measure can be really useful for keeping yourself on track for meeting a more long-term goal,” Blumenthal said. “For example, maybe today your goal is to exercise for five more minutes or do one more bicep curl than you did the day before.”

It helps to have a friend or family member hold you accountable to your workout plan. “This could be someone you’re actually exercising with or just someone that you check in with a couple of times a week about what you accomplished and how a particular activity is going,” said Doyle.

Go virtual. With a little online sleuthing, you can find exercise apps and virtual classes for all ages, skill levels and interests. YMCA 360, for example, “allows you to stream thousands of fitness classes as well as classes on other topics like cooking and meditation,” said Doyle. “We have something for everybody, from very young children to older adults, as well as families. This program is a way to bring our instructors into the comfort of your own home and keep your workout exciting and fresh.”

Transform everyday activities into exercise opportunities. 

You don’t need fancy equipment or a gym membership to remain active when you’re inside. “Exercise can be incorporated into almost anything you do around the house,” said Blumenthal. “For example, do lunges down the hallway instead of walking, or do situps and pushups during commercial breaks when you watch TV. If your job involves sitting at a desk, set a timer for every 30 to 60 minutes to get up and move around.”

Use your spring and summertime interests as inspiration. 

From hiking to softball, many of us have outdoor activities that we love to do when the weather turns warm. Instead of biding your time until the seasons change, work on maintaining or even improving your level of fitness for those activities now.

“Let’s say you’re a gardener. What kinds of exercises could you do in your home to better prepare your body for bending up and down, or some of the other movements associated with yard work?” Ropp said.

Get a step counter (pedometer). 

Step counters use sensors to track your steps. “If there’s a day where you have haven’t been quite as active, then you can take some extra loops around the house to compensate,” Ropp said.

According to a 2021 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, people who take at least 7,000 steps a day had a 50 to 70 percent lower risk of mortality than those who took fewer steps.

Listen to your body. 

When you are trying a new activity, ease into it and let your body be your guide.

“Exercising can be uncomfortable sometimes and normal soreness is reasonable, but if something you’re doing is causing pain in a specific area, you should stop and possibly seek medical care if it persists,” Blumenthal advised.

One of the goals of exercise is to get your heart pumping, but don’t overdo it. “If someone asked you how you were doing and you couldn’t respond, then your heart rate is too high,” Doyle said. “It’s time to slow down or take a break.”

Source: MultiCare Health System.

The Senior Scene by — January 30, 2024 in Health & Fitness