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U.S. NEWS Friday 3 June 2022
Go-broke dates pushed back for Social Security, Medicare

By FATIMA HUSSEIN and has surged due to high in-
TOM MURPHY flation, have made it dif-
Associated Press ficult for Thompson and
WASHINGTON (AP) — A his mother to drive to take
stronger-than-expected care of his grandmother.
economic recovery from "All of us have experienced
the pandemic has pushed high costs," Thompson said.
back the go-broke dates Because his grandmother
for Social Security and can pass on some of her
Medicare, but officials Social Security benefits to
warn that the current eco- her daughter to help pay
nomic turbulence is putting for gasoline costs, "the ad-
additional pressures on the justment is a cushion my
bedrock retirement pro- mom can rest on" as she
grams. travels to care for Thomp-
The annual Social Security son's grandmother.
and Medicare trustees re- A Treasury official said this
port released Thursday says year's high inflation could
Social Security's trust fund prompt an 8% percent in-
will be unable to pay full crease in benefits next
benefits in 2035, instead of year.
last year's estimate of 2034. A new Congressional Bud-
The year before that it esti- get Office report states that
mated an exhaustion date A Social Security card is displayed on Oct. 12, 2021, in Tigard, Ore. the biggest drivers of debt
of 2035.The projected de- Associated Press rising in relation to GDP are
pletion date for Medicare's increasing interest costs
trust fund for inpatient hos- as well as disabled people doesn't reflect an expect- about whether the presi- and spending for Medicare
pital care moved back and survivors of deceased ed drop due to an overes- dent intends to nominate and Social Security. An ag-
two years to 2028 from last workers. Medicare covers timation of the cost of cov- new public trustees. ing population drives those
year's forecast of 2026. roughly 64 million older and ering the Alzheimer's treat- The trustees report is an numbers.Charles Balhous, a
"Economic recovery from disabled people. ment Aduhelm. added reminder of the senior economic adviser to
the 2020 recession has Income for Medicare's hos- The impact of the eco- U.S. government's financial former President George W.
been stronger and faster pital insurance fund is pro- nomic recovery on the trust troubles, as it juggles histori- Bush and a public trustee of
than assumed in last year's jected to be higher than funds has been resound- cally high inflation, recov- Social Security and Medi-
reports, with positive effects estimates from last year ingly positive, which was ery from a pandemic and care during the Obama
on the projected actuarial because the number of stronger and faster than ex- the war in Ukraine. administration, told The As-
status of the trust funds in covered workers who help pected, a Treasury official There was some good sociated Press that "the first
these reports," the report fund it and their average said Thursday on the condi- news for retirees, however. thing that's important to do
states. wages are both expected tion of anonymity during a This year, Social Security is grasp the baseline, it's
Forecasters said in the re- to be higher. call with reporters. retirees got a 5.9% boost very dire," he said.
port released Thursday A main source of financing The trustees of Social Secu- in benefits this year, which Balhous says failing to fi-
that the ongoing COVID-19 is payroll taxes on earnings rity and Medicare include was the biggest cost-of-liv- nance Social Security and
pandemic will have no net paid by employees and the secretaries of Treasury, ing adjustment, also known Medicare under its current
effect on their long-range employers. About 183 mil- Health and Human Servic- as COLA, in 39 years. structure "would subject
projections. But they also lion people paid those tax- es, and Labor, as well as Ron Thompson Jr, a 24 year- the programs to perpetual
noted that assumptions es in 2021. the Social Security commis- old D.C. resident, says this renegotiation," with the
for their latest report were The report projects the sioner. They are supposed year's cost of living increase threat of benefit cuts or
made in February, which Medicare "Part B" premium to be joined by two "public has been "transformation- elimination in the future.
was before cases began for outpatient coverage to trustees," however those al" as a trickle-down ben- "If we were to wait until the
climbing again nationally remain stable at $170.10 a positions are currently va- efit to his family, as he helps 2030s" to take action, "the
and inflation jumped. month. But administration cant. take care of his 77 year-old annual shortfall would be
Social Security pays ben- officials said that projec- A representative from the grandmother, who lives on so large — so many times
efits to more than 65 million tion, based on informa- White House did not re- the other side of town. larger that it's not possible
Americans, mainly retirees tion from earlier this year, spond to an email inquiry Transportation costs, which to fathom."q

Hinckley, who shot Reagan, says thanks after winning freedom

By JESSICA GRESKO his release from conditions would this world needs is peace, love and insanity in shooting Reagan. But he
Associated Press occur as planned June 15. understanding." has shown no signs of active men-
WASHINGTON (AP) — John Hinck- Hinckley, 67, sings and plays guitar In July, Hinckley plans to give a tal illness in decades, the judge
ley Jr., who shot President Ronald and hopes to pursue a music ca- concert in New York City. Appear- repeated Wednesday, and has
Reagan in 1981, is saying thank you reer. He was not at the hearing but ances in Connecticut and Chi- exhibited no violent behavior or in-
to the people who helped him win wrote a brief thank you Wednes- cago for what he has called the terest in weapons.
freedom from court oversight. day evening on Twitter. "John Hinckley Redemption Tour" "He's no longer a danger to him-
U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. "A big thank you to everyone who have been canceled. Hinckley self or others," Friedman repeated
Friedman had freed Hinckley in helped me get my unconditional also shares his music on a YouTube Wednesday. In 2003, Friedman
September from all remaining re- release," he wrote. "What a long channel. began allowing Hinckley to spend
strictions but said his order wouldn't strange trip it has been. Now it's Hinckley was confined to a men- longer and longer stretches in the
take effect until this month. On time to rock and roll." tal hospital in Washington for more community with requirements like
Wednesday, the judge held a final On Thursday, the day after the than two decades after a jury attending therapy and restrictions
hearing in Hinckley's case and said hearing, Hinckley tweeted, "What found him not guilty by reason of on where he can travel.q