Youth Foundation offers grant cycle

The Washington County Youth Foundation has been steadily working to be ready for the start of this year’s fall grant cycle. They will be conducting a meeting at the Washington County Community Learning Center on October 5, 2016 at 7:00 pm to distribute grant applications. One adult and one youth representative from any organization wishing to apply for a grant should be present at this meeting. The Youth Foundation offers grants for youth directed community service projects.

Judy Johnson, Executive Director of the Foundation, commented, “The Youth Foundation has been offering a grant cycle since 2002. They have funded many youth-directed community service projects. It is so exciting to see youth and adults working together for the betterment of Washington County.”

At the October 5^th meeting, representatives from the Washington County Youth Foundation will discuss the application process for the grant cycle. Any organization wishing to apply for a grant should be represented by at least one adult and one youth. However, this is not a mandatory meeting.

Applications will be due by October 27, 2016, 3:00pm in the Foundation Office and the grant awards will be announced after November 17^th. For more information, you can call the Washington County Community Foundation office at 883-7334.

The mission of the Washington County Community Foundation is to engage people, build resources and strengthen our community.

Cheap Cell Phone Plans for Infrequent Callers

What are the cheapest cell phone options available to people today who only want one for emergency purposes or occasional calls? I have a cell phone now that costs me $30 per month, but I hate paying for something I hardly ever use.
For people who don't use their cell phones very often but still want one for emergencies or occasional use, there are a many super-cheap plans available. Depending on your income level you may qualify for a free cell phone. Here's where to find some of the best deals.

Super-Cheap Plans

For people who are light/infrequent cell phone users, "prepaid" or "pay as you go" plans are the way to go if you want to save money. With these services, you buy a certain amount of minutes (for talk or text) that must be used within a specified period of time.
While many cell phone providers still offer these lower cost plans, the very best/cheapest deal available today is through T-Mobile's pay as you go plan (T-Mobile.com, 800-501-0952).
For just $3 per month, this plan provides any combination of 30 minutes of talk or 30 text messages. If you want more, you can pay an additional 10 cents per minute/message when you sign up, or you can make adjustments later. You also don't have to worry about overage charges with this plan, because once you reach your talk/text limit for the month, the phone stops working. And, if you have a compatible device, you won't need to purchase a new cell phone.
If you're looking for a little more talk time or more text messages, another low-cost option is Pure Talk USA (PureTalkUSA.com, 877-820-7873). It also offers a Senior AddVantage 80 Plan. This plan provides any combination of 80 minutes of talk or 240 text messages for only $5 per month. Pure Talk also accepts unlocked phones and they don't have overage fees.

Senior-Friendly Cell Phone

If you are looking for a senior-friendly phone with a large keypad, simplified features and an "SOS" emergency alert button, the Doro PhoneEasy 626 sold through Consumer Cellular (ConsumerCellular.com, 888-532-5366) is the best, low-cost option. It runs $50 for the phone, with calling plans that start at $10 per month.

Free Cell Phones

If your income is low enough, you may qualify for a free cell phone through the Lifeline Assistance Program. This is a government-sponsored program that subsidizes wireless (and landline) companies who in turn provide free cell phones and usually between 250 and 1,000 minutes of free monthly talk time and texts to low-income Americans. (Some programs in some states charge a small monthly fee.)
The free phones and minutes are provided by a number of big prepaid wireless companies like Safelink, Assurance Wireless and Budget Mobile, along with a host of other regional carriers throughout the country.
Most states have several wireless companies that provide the free phones and minutes. If you are eligible, the free cell phone you'll receive is a basic phone that also offers text messaging, voicemail, call waiting and caller ID.
To qualify, you'll need to show that you're receiving certain types of government benefits, such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, SSI, home energy assistance or public housing assistance, or that your household income is at or below 135 or 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines - it varies by state. To find out if you're eligible or to locate the wireless companies that provide Lifeline government cell phones in your state, visit LifelineSupport.org.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published September 9, 2016

Donating Old Hearing Aids, Eyeglasses and Mobility Equipment

Where are some good places to donate old hearing aids, eyeglasses and mobility equipment? My uncle passed away a few months ago and left behind a bunch of useful aids that could surely help someone else.
Donating old, unused assistive living aids and/or medical equipment is a great way to help those in need who can't afford it, and in most cases it is tax deductible too. Here are some good places to check into.

Hearing Aids

There are several national nonprofit service organizations that offer hearing aid recycling programs. Hearing aids that are donated are usually refurbished and either redistributed to those in need, or resold with the proceeds going to buy new hearing aids for people who can't afford them.
One of the most popular places to donate old hearing aids, as well as hearing aid parts or other assistive listening devices is the Starkey Hearing Foundation "Hear Now" recycling program (starkeyhearingfoundation.org, 800-328-8602), which collects around 60,000 hearing aids a year. Hearing aids and other listening devices should be sent to: Starkey Hearing Foundation, ATTN: Hearing Aid Recycling, 6700 Washington Avenue South, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.
Some other good nonprofits to donate to are the Lions Club Hearing Aid Recycling Program (go to lionsclubs.org and search for: HARP), and Hearing Charities of America (hearingaiddonations.org, 816-333-8300), which is founded by Sertoma, a civic service organization dedicated to hearing health.
Or, if you're interested in donating locally, contact your Hearing Loss Association of America state or local chapter (see hearingloss.org for contact information). They can refer you to state agencies or community service programs that also accept hearing aids.

Eyeglasses

One of the best places to donate old eyeglasses is to the Lions Club Recycle for Sight program. They collect nearly 30 million pairs of glasses each year and distribute them to people in need in developing countries.
To donate, look for a Lion's Club glasses donation drop-off box in your community. You can often find them at libraries, community centers, churches, schools and many local eye doctor offices, or call your local Lions Club for drop-off locations. See directory.lionsclubs.org for contact information.
New Eyes (www.new-eyes.org) is another not-for-profit organization that collects unused eyeglasses and distributes them abroad to people in need.

Medical Equipment

If you have old wheelchairs, walkers, canes, shower chairs or other durable medical equipment, there are many foundations and organizations that would love to receive them. For example, Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are popular donation destinations, as are foundations like the ALS Association (alsa.org) and Muscular Dystrophy Association (mda.org), which accept donations at local chapters.
There are also state agencies and local nonprofit organizations that accept medical equipment donations and redistribute them to people in need. To find what's available in your area, contact your state assistive technologies program for a referral. See ataporg.org/programs for contact information.
Or, if you're interested in selling your uncle's old medical equipment, you have options here too, including craigslist.com, recycledmedical.com and usedhme.com, which are all free sites that let you list what you want to sell online.

Tax Deductible

Don't forget that donations to nonprofits are tax-deductible, so when you drop off your donated items, be sure to ask for a receipt for your tax records. Or, if you're mailing it in or are using one of the Lions Club drop-off boxes, you'll need to include a note requesting a letter of acknowledgement of the donation. Your note should include your name and a brief description of what you donated, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published August 26, 2016

Medicare Coverage for Non-Working Spouses

Does Medicare cover spouses who have not worked? I have worked all my life, but my spouse worked only for a few years when we first got married but then quit to take care of our children full time. Will she be eligible for Medicare?
There are plenty of couples in your situation when it comes to applying for Medicare. The answer generally is yes, your spouse can qualify for Medicare on your work record. Here's how it works.

Eligibility Rules

Medicare, the government health insurance program for older adults, covers more than 55 million Americans age 65 and older, as well as those younger than age 65 who have a qualifying disability or have end-stage renal disease.
To be eligible, you must have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years to qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A hospital coverage when you turn 65. If you qualify, then your non-working spouse will qualify too, based on your work record, when she turns 65.
Divorced spouses are also eligible if they were married at least 10 years and are single. Surviving spouses who are single and who were married for at least nine months before their spouse died are also eligible.
In addition to Part A, both you and your spouse would also qualify for Medicare Part B, which covers doctor's visits and other outpatient services. However, Medicare Part B requires a monthly premium, not a work history. The premium for most Part B beneficiaries in 2016 is $104.90 per month, while new beneficiaries pay $121.80 per month. Also note that higher earning couples - those with incomes over $170,000 per year - pay even more.
There are also a number of other caveats you should be aware of depending on your wife's age.

Older Spouse

If your wife is older than you, she can qualify for Medicare on your work record at age 65, even if you're not getting Medicare yourself, so long as you are at least 62 years old. You also must have been married for at least one year for your wife to apply for Medicare on your work record.
If you are still working and your wife is covered by your employer's health insurance, she may want to enroll only in the premium-free Medicare Part A until you retire or your employer's coverage ends. Part B - along with its premium - can be added later without penalty as long as your employer's group health plan is your "primary coverage." Check with your employer's human resources department to find out about this.
If your wife is more than three years older than you and has no health coverage, you can buy her Medicare Part A until you turn 62 and the premium-free benefit kicks in. The Part A monthly premium is $411 in 2016.

Younger Spouse

If your wife is younger than you, she will need health insurance until she turns 65 and becomes eligible for Medicare. This may be obtained through your employer, if you are still working, through COBRA (see dol.gov/ebsa/publications/cobraemployee.html), the Health Insurance Marketplace (see healthcare.gov) or outside the marketplace through a private insurance company.

Other Medicare Options

In addition to Medicare Part A and B, when you and your wife become Medicare eligible, each of you will also need to enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan if you don't have credible drug coverage from your employer or union. You also may want to purchase a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy too, in order to help pay for things that aren't covered by Medicare—like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Alternatively, you may want to consider an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan.
For more information on Medicare choices and enrollment rules visit Medicare.gov or call 800-633-4227. You can also get help through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see shiptacenter.org), which provides free Medicare counseling.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published August 12, 2016

WCCF offering $30,000.00 in Fall Grant Cycle

The Washington County Community Foundation is excited to announce its fall grant cycle and are looking forward to reviewing grant applications from non-profits serving Washington County. Grants are issued from the Washington County Community Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow funds. The total amount available for this grant cycle is $30,000.00.

Grant applications for the fall grant cycle are available at the WCCF office. You can also download the application on the Foundation website, www.wccf.biz and clicking on the Grant Seekers portion of the homepage. The application deadline will be 3:30 pm, September 15, 2016. For more information, you may call Judy Johnson or Lindsey Wade-Swift at the Foundation office or visit our website. The number is 883-7334.

How to Find Financial Assistance for Elderly Parents

Where can I go to locate financial assistance programs for seniors? I have been helping support my 70-year-old mother the past couple years and really can't afford to do it any longer.
There are actually a wide variety of financial assistance programs and government benefits that can help seniors in need. But what's available to your mom will depend on her income level and where she lives.
To find out what types of assistance your mom may be eligible for, just go to BenefitsCheckUp.org, a free, confidential Web tool designed for adults 55 and older and their families. It will help you locate federal, state and private benefits programs that can assist with paying for food, medications, utilities, health care, housing and other needs. This site – created by the National Council on Aging – contains more than 2,000 programs across the country.
To identify benefits, you'll first need to fill out an online questionnaire that asks a series of questions like your mom's date of birth, her ZIP code, expenses, income, assets, veteran status, the medications she takes and a few other factors. It takes about 15 minutes.
Once completed, you'll get a report detailing all the programs and services she may qualify for, along with detailed information on how to apply.
Some programs can be applied for online, some have downloadable application forms that you can print and mail, fax or email in, and some require that you contact the program's administrative office directly (they provide the necessary contact information).
If you don't have Internet access, you can also get help in-person at any of the 47 Benefit Enrollment Centers located throughout the U.S. Call 888-268-6706 or visit NCOA.org/centerforbenefits/becs to locate a center in your area. Some centers also offer assistance over the phone.

Types of Benefits

Depending on your mom's income level and where she lives, here are some benefits that she may be eligible for:
Food Assistance: Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help pay for groceries. The average monthly SNAP benefit is currently around $127 per person. Other programs that may be available include the Emergency Food Assistance Program, Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
Healthcare: Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs can help or completely pay for out-of-pocket health care costs. And, there are special Medicaid waiver programs that provide in-home care and assistance.
Prescription Drugs: There are hundreds of programs offered through pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and charitable organizations that help lower or eliminate prescription drug costs, including the federal Low Income Subsidy known as "Extra Help" that pays premiums, deductibles and prescription copayments for Medicare Part D beneficiaries.
Utility Assistance: There's the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), as well as local utility companies and charitable organizations that provide assistance in lowering home heating and cooling costs.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Administered by the Social Security Administration, SSI provides monthly payments to very low-income seniors, age 65 and older, as well as to those who are blind and disabled. SSI pays up to $733 per month for a single person and up to $1,100 for couples.
In addition to these programs, there are numerous other benefits they can help you locate such as HUD housing, home weatherization assistance, tax relief, veteran's benefits, senior transportation, respite care, free legal assistance, job training and employment and debt counseling.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published August 5, 2016

How to Choose an Adult Day Care Service

Can you offer any tips on finding and choosing a good adult day care service for an elderly parent? My 82-year-old mother, who is moving in with me, has Alzheimer's and needs attention during the day while I'm at work.
Adult day care services can be a great option for caregivers who work or for those who just need a break during the day. Here's what you should know, along with some tips to help you find and choose one.

Adult Day Services

The adult day care service business has grown rapidly in recent years. According to the National Adult Day Services Association, there are around 5,700 programs operating in the United States today.
As the name implies, an adult day care center provides care for elderly seniors who cannot care for themselves at home. While services will vary from center to center, they typically provide personal care, meals and snacks, various activities and social interaction in a safe supportive environment. Additionally, many centers also provide health services, such as medication management, various therapies, exercise and transportation to and from the facility.
Adult day care centers generally operate programs during normal business hours, five days a week. However, some centers may offer additional evening and weekend services as well.
Depending on where you live, costs for care will vary anywhere between $25 to more than $100 per day. The national average is $65 per day.
Unfortunately, in most cases, original Medicare (Part A and B) does not pay for adult day care. While some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans and many long-term care insurance policies will pay for expenses, most seniors (or their families) will pay for the care out-of-pocket.
If your mom has a low amount of income and can't afford this, many states offer Medicaid waiver programs. Additionally, some states have Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE programs) that provide financial assistance. Contact your state Medicaid office (see Medicaid.gov) for more information. The VA even provides adult day care to eligible veterans enrolled in their Medical Benefits Package. See VA.gov/geriatrics to learn more.

How to Choose

Your first step in searching for an adult day care center is to determine the kinds of services your mother needs. After you do that, here are some tips to help you locate and choose a good provider.
Start by contacting your Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number) to get referrals to adult day service programs in your area. You can also search online at the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) website at NADSA.org/locator or check your phone book yellow pages under "Adult Day Care" or "Seniors Services."
Once you have a list of a few centers, call them to find out their eligibility criteria, if they offer the types of services your mother needs, if they are accepting new clients, if they are licensed and/or registered with a state agency (this is not required in all states), their hours of operation and what they charge.
After you identify a few good centers, go in for a visit. Find out about the staffing ratio (at least one staff member for every six participants is recommended) and what kind of training they have. While you're there, notice the cleanness and smell of the facility. Is it homey and inviting? Does the staff seem friendly and knowledgeable? Also be sure to taste the food and consider making an unannounced visit.
To help you rate your visit, the NADSA offers a helpful checklist of questions to ask. To view this checklist visit NADSA.org and click on "Choosing a Center."
After your visit, be sure to check the center's references. Get names and phone numbers of at least two or three families who have used the center you are considering and call them.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published July 22, 2016

Great Gadgets for Aging Golfers

Can you recommend any products that can help older golfers? I love to play golf, but at age 74, I have hip and back problems that make bending over to tee up or pick up the ball difficult. And I have arthritis in my thumbs that makes gripping the club a problem.
There are actually a wide variety of nifty golf accessories and adaptive equipment that can help older golfers who struggle with injuries, arthritis or loss of mobility. Here are several products for different needs.

Bending Substitutes

The game of golf requires a lot of repetitive bending and stooping that comes with teeing up the ball, repairing divots, marking the ball on the green and retrieving a ball, tee or club on the ground.
For teeing up the ball without bending over, consider one of the Northcroft Golf Tee-Up devices. These are long-handled tools (1.5 to 3 feet long) that have trigger-style handgrips and a jaw that holds the ball and tee for easy placement. They cost between $69 and $72 and are available at NorthcroftGolf.com. For other tee-up solutions, see the Tee Pal ($55, TeePalPro.com) and Joe's Original Backtee ($15, UprightGolf.com).
NorthcroftGolf.com and UprightGolf.com also offer a variety of stoop-proof ball pickup accessories, divot repair and magnetic ball marker products ranging between $5 and $12.
If you just want a great all-around golf picker-upper, consider the Graball GrabAll Jaw - sold through Amazon.com for $10 for a package of two. It attaches to the handle end of your putter and chipper and is designed to pick up golf balls, flagsticks, putters and green side chippers.

Gripping Aids

To help alleviate your golf club gripping problem, there are specially designed golf gloves and grips that can make a big difference.
The best gloves are the Bionic Golf Gloves (BionicGloves.com) that have extra padding in the palm and finger joints to improve grip. The Power Glove (PowerGlove.com) is another option, which has a small strap attached to the glove that loops around the club grip to secure it in your hand. These run between $20 and $30.
You can also get oversized grips installed on your clubs. This can make gripping the club easier and more comfortable and are also great at absorbing shock. Oversized grips are usually either one-sixteenth-inch or one-eighth-inch larger in diameter than a standard grip and cost around $10 per grip. You can find these grips and have them installed at your local golf store or pro shop.
For a grip-and-glove combination fix, consider the Quantum Grip (QuantumGrip.com) that incorporates Velcro material recessed in the golf club grip and a companion golf glove that has matching Velcro material in the palm. These cost $20 per grip, plus $35 per glove.

Vision Helper

If vision problems make finding the ball difficult, Chromax golf balls (ChromaxGolf.com) can make a big difference. These are reflective colored golf balls that make them appear larger and brighter. They cost $10.50 for a three-pack.

Ergonomic Carts

There are also ergonomically designed golf carts that can help you transport your golf clubs around the course. If you like to walk, the Sun Mountain Sports Micro-Cart, V1 Sport Cart or Reflex Cart are great options. These are three and four-wheeled, lightweight push carts that fold into a compact size for easy transport. Available at SunMountain.com for $200, $210 and $230.
For severe mobility loss, the SoloRider specialized electric golf cart (SoloRider.com) provides the ability to play from a seated or standing-but-supported position. Retailing for $9,450, plus a $550 shipping fee, this cart is lightweight and precisely balanced so it can be driven on tee boxes and greens without causing any damage. Federal ADA laws require that all publically owned golf courses allow them.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published July 15, 2016

WCCF offering $30,000.00 in Fall Grant Cycle

There will be a public meeting for any non-profit organization wishing to apply for a grant from the Washington County Community Foundation. The meeting will be held on August 2nd, 2016 at 6:00 pm at the Community Learning Center. We will discuss our grant criteria, guidelines, application process, deadlines and reporting process. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Our goal is that by the end of the meeting, all potential applicants will have a strong understanding of the process. Attendance at this meeting is not required to apply for a grant; however, first-time grant applicants are strongly encouraged to attend this session.

This type of grant is issued from the Washington County Community Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow funds. The total amount available for this grant cycle is $25,000.00.

Grant applications for the fall grant cycle will be available at the public meeting and the WCCF office. You can also download the application on the Foundation website, www.wccf.biz and clicking on the Grant Seekers portion of the homepage. The Washington County Community Foundation will begin accepting applications on August 2, 2016. The application deadline will be 3:30 pm, September 15, 2016. For more information, you may call Judy Johnson or Lindsey Wade-Swift at the Foundation office. The number is 883-7334.

Who's Eligible for Social Security Survivor Benefits?

Who is eligible for Social Security survivor benefits? My ex-husband died last year at the age of 59, and I would like to find out if me, or my two kids - ages 13 and 16 - that we had together are eligible for anything.
If your ex-husband worked and paid Social Security taxes, both you and your kids may very well be eligible for survivors' benefits. However, you need to act quickly because benefits are generally only retroactive up to six months. Here's what you should know.
Under Social Security law, when a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of that person's family may be eligible for survivors' benefits, including spouses, former spouses and dependents. Here's a breakdown of who may be eligible.
Widows and divorced widow: Surviving spouses are eligible to collect a monthly survivor benefit as early as age 60 (or age 50 if disabled). Divorced surviving spouses are also eligible at this same age, if they were married at least 10 years and did not remarry before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), unless the marriage ends.
How much you'll receive will depend on how much money your spouse or ex-spouse made over their lifetime (i.e., the earnings that were subject to Social Security taxes) and your age when you apply for survivors' benefits.
If you wait until your full retirement age, you'll receive 100% of your deceased spouse's (or ex-spouse's) benefit amount. Note that full retirement age is 66 for people born between 1945 and 1956 and gradually increases to age 67 for those born in 1962 or later. If you apply after age 60 but before your full retirement age, then your benefit will be somewhere between 71.5% and 99% of your deceased spouse's benefit.
To find out what percentage you can get when you reach your full retirement age visit ssa.gov/survivorplan/survivorchartred.htm.
There is, however, one exception. If a surviving spouse (or ex spouse) is caring for a child (or children) who is under age 16 or disabled, then the surviving spouse is eligible to receive 75% of the deceased spouse's benefit amount at any age.
Unmarried children: Surviving unmarried children under age 18 (or up to age 19 if they are still attending high school) are eligible to receive survivor benefits too. Benefits can also be paid to children at any age if they were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. Both biological and adoptive children are eligible, as well as children born out of wedlock. Dependent stepchildren and grandchildren may also qualify. Children's benefits are equal to 75% of the worker's benefit.
Dependent parents: Benefits can also be paid to dependent parents who are age 62 and older. For parents to qualify as dependents, they must have received at least one half of their financial support from the deceased worker.
However, it is important to be aware that Social Security has limits on how much a family can receive in monthly survivors' benefits. The amount is usually limited to 150% to 180% of the workers benefit.
You also should be aware that in addition to survivor benefits, surviving spouses and children are eligible to receive a one-time death benefit of $255.

Maximizing Strategies

Social Security also provides surviving spouses and ex-spouses some nice strategies that can help boost their benefits. For example, you could take a reduced survivor benefit at age 60 and then switch to your own retirement benefit a few years down the road if it offers a higher payment.
Or, if you're already receiving retirement benefits, you could switch to the survivors' benefit if it offers a higher payment. You cannot, however, receive both benefits.
You also need to know that if you collect a survivors' benefit while working and have not reached your full retirement age, then your benefits may be reduced depending on your earnings.
For more information, visit ssa.gov/survivorplan or call 800-772-1213.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Super-Cheap Plans

Senior-Friendly Cell Phone

Free Cell Phones

Hearing Aids

Eyeglasses

Medical Equipment

Tax Deductible

Eligibility Rules

Older Spouse

Younger Spouse

Other Medicare Options

Types of Benefits

Adult Day Services

How to Choose

Great Gadgets for Aging Golfers

Bending Substitutes

Gripping Aids

Vision Helper

Ergonomic Carts

Maximizing Strategies

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