| Author |
Message |
Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Friday, February 21, 2025 - 5:35 pm 
He might be growing into his ears! Look forward to his new picture.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 3:38 am
RN I took a couple quick pictures last night, but they didn't show how much he grew very well. I'll try again today.
RN I figured out something while looking at my online social security statement.
Just this one year dog sitting changed how much my own monthly retirement SS I can receive if I take it at 70 by $242. So if I just keep dogsitting at this same pace for 4 more years, my own SS will be more than the survivor benefits if I take it at 70.
I know from Maris telling me I can switch, so I just hope this is how it works with my own still going up while am taking the survivor benefits amount and working at the same time.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 6:31 am
RN Ok, here's how big Apollo has gotten at 4 mo. This is him next to Dolly in the yard this morning.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 8:58 am
I had to take mine earlier than the top age and it certainly makes a difference.
But, today there are so many factors to consider, including the possibility that the age to get benefits may go up. That has been mentioned. Privatizing could change the rules for all of us.
And experts can predict what could happen, what will happen, but we really don't know. And I am far from an expert!
That puppy sure has grown!
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 9:17 am
RN For sure, Seamonkey. You never know what will happen, especially now. I'll just feel lucky to get my survivor benefits locked in for June.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 9:26 am
Yes!
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 9:54 am
I worry about the earnings limit for taking *any* Social security benefit. If you go over the limit, you lose benefits for that month, and if you are not filing until the end of the year, you can have a large amount to pay back.
Here's a summary from an SS expert:
"You can claim your own SS retirement benefits now and at survivor FRA file for the surviving spouse benefits (your own retirement benefits would cease) IF that's the optimal strategy for you.
Re: Social Security surviving spouse benefits and Social Security retirement benefits
Length of marriage requirement when one is married to their spouse when the spouse dies is 9 months, usually.
One can start with either benefit and switch to the other later. One can only collect one benefit at a time, not both concurrently.
These are two different benefits and the age one begins one has no impact on the other benefit. Their age when they begin collecting each benefit determines if the amount is permanently reduced or not.
Earning limits would apply until the month they attain FRA if working and collecting either benefit.
If they are not collecting their own SS retirement benefits when they become eligible for surviving spouse benefits, then there are two claiming strategies. Here are the steps:
Compare the amount of the surviving spouse benefit at their survivor FRA with their own SS retirement benefits at 70.
If the surviving spouse benefit at their survivor FRA is higher than their own retirement benefits at 70, file for their own reduced retirement benefits as early as 62 and switch to the surviving spouse benefit at survivor FRA.
If their own benefits at 70 are higher than the surviving spouse benefit at survivor FRA, file for the reduced surviving spouse benefit as early as 60 and switch to their own at 70.
Must not have remarried prior to age 60 to be eligible for the surviving spouse benefit (age 50, if one applies and is deemed a disabled surviving spouse) unless the subsequent remarriage ends in divorce, death or annulment."
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 10:04 am
RN I had already looked it up. The earnings limit is $23,400 (not including the benefits), and then when you hit 67, there is no earnings limit.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 10:33 am
Whew... I think people are often surprised by it, I should have known you'd be on top of it!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-06-2000
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 12:03 pm
It certainly could be confusing.
I am getting my taxes done in a couple of hours and will be interested in what he thinks will happen and when.
Seems like, logically, the 2025 tax year is already underway with current rules, rates and tax tables and changes would start in 2026, but most of what is going on isn't logical and dictators don't follow rules and so far the senate majority is supporting the no tax cuts for billionaires.
All the pandemic deaths "saved" a ton in payments from Social Security, so restricting access to vaccines, medications, testing, reporting, research, so that more will die and go off social security rolls.
Reportedly $205 billion.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Sunday, February 23, 2025 - 9:32 am
RN I am so tired. The puppies wanted to play in the middle of the night. And now they want to sleep. 
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Sunday, February 23, 2025 - 11:01 am
Don't disturb the poor things, Naja. Bwahahahahahaha
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Grooch
Member
06-16-2006
| Sunday, February 23, 2025 - 11:18 am
Dogdoc, how is your puppy doing? We need an update.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Sunday, February 23, 2025 - 11:29 am
RN Thank goodness they slept like an hour, and no way would I disturb them, Dogdoc. LOL The GS dog goes home in about 90 minutes. I may get some sleep tonight.
RN Yes, what Grooch said.... where is an update about your new pup?
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Dipo
Member
04-22-2002
| Sunday, February 23, 2025 - 11:54 am
RN just saw an email that referenced the "White House Home for the Aged" and I started cracking up, thought it was so funny.
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Sugar
Member
08-14-2000
| Sunday, February 23, 2025 - 3:53 pm
RN I am not particularly enjoying the roast beef I made as it is tough, I had used meat tenderizer. Guess I will make stew or soup sometime this week.
I'm also watching an episode of Kids Baking Championship and hoping the kid who is ignoring their oven timer doesn't burn their cake.
It was my oven timer and my roasted carrots were fine.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-26-2000
| Sunday, February 23, 2025 - 9:10 pm
The Darling Dogs Sleeping photo is hilarious.
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Monday, February 24, 2025 - 7:40 am
RN Grooch, Beth and I are doing fine.
RN she has inflamed ears, so I am treating her for possible ear mites, or food sensitivity.
RN She is quite active and loves the fenced in back yard.
RN We are working on her barking and my "Beth, get in here!"
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Grooch
Member
06-16-2006
| Monday, February 24, 2025 - 12:01 pm
RN Happy to hear that, Dogdoc. I wish you good luck with the barking. That's a hard one.
When I moved into my bf's house, my dogs would bark at anything that moved, on one side of the house. So, I draped a blanket over the fence so they couldn't see anything. Who cared how it looked? There was peace and quiet which was wonderful.
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Dogdoc
Member
09-29-2001
| Monday, February 24, 2025 - 12:04 pm
RN Grooch, I plan to block one side of the fence off like that.
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Jimmer
Board Administrator
08-29-2000
| Monday, February 24, 2025 - 1:54 pm
RN, Wonderful to hear you and Beth are doing fine.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - 4:31 am
RN Has anybody ever heard of "LIHEAP"? It's an energy assistance program you can get once a year. The income qualifications are quite high in my state, so more people qualify than you would think. This is the second year I've applied.
Last year I got $326 toward my electric bill, but this year I am getting it toward my gas bill. They pay it directly to your energy company and $326 covers almost 3 months for me. You can apply once a year.
The income limit for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) varies by state and household size. In Missouri, the income limits for 2025 are:
1 person: $3,170 per month
2 people: $4,145.41 per month
3 people: $5,120.83 per month
4 people: $6,096.25 per month
Click your own state for more info.
https://acf.gov/ocs/map/liheap-map-state-and-territory-contact-listing
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - 1:24 pm
It's called LEAP where I live.. but I don't qualify.
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Dipo
Member
04-22-2002
| Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - 1:51 pm
RN, we have the CARE program.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Sunday, March 02, 2025 - 4:20 am
RN This is weird. I'm watching last night's SNL, and the name of a music artist named Shaboozey came up. I don't know who that is, so I googled it.
You try it:
Put the name Shaboozey
into www.google.com
and see what happens.
I'm guessing it's because of the name of one of his songs.
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