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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 14 OctOber 2020
Retiree checks to rise 1.3% in 2021 amid coronavirus fallout

By RICARDO ALONSO- bigger tax cuts in mind.
ZALDIVAR and Early in the year, he told
ANDREW TAYLOR an interviewer he wanted
Associated Press to tackle "entitlements," or
WASHINGTON (AP) — So- benefit programs, in a sec-
cial Security recipients will ond term.
get a modest 1.3% cost-of Biden has a Social Security
living-increase in 2021, but plan that would revamp
that might be small com- the COLA and peg it to an
fort amid worries about the inflation index that more
coronavirus and its conse- closely reflects changes
quences for older people. in costs for older people,
The increase amounts to particularly health care.
$20 a month for the aver- That's been a priority for
age retired worker, accord- advocates. He would also
ing to estimates released increase minimum benefits
Tuesday by the Social Se- for lower-income retirees,
curity Administration. That's addressing financial hard-
a little less than this year's ship among the elderly.
1.6% cost-of-living adjust- The former vice president
ment, or COLA. would raise Social Security
The COLA affects the per- taxes by applying the pay-
sonal finances of about 1 roll tax to earnings above
in 5 Americans, including In this Feb. 11, 2005 file photo, trays of printed social security checks wait to be mailed from the $400,000 a year. The 12.4%
Social Security recipients, U.S. Treasury's Financial Management services facility in Philadelphia. Associated Press tax, equally distributed
disabled veterans and fed- among employees and
eral retirees, some 70 mil- at a period where there rus's health and economic to give," she said. "Some- employers, currently only
lion people in all. are growing inadequacies consequences," said AARP thing's got to change." applies to the first $137,700
The economic fallout from in Social Security benefits, CEO Jo Ann Jenkins. People 65 and older went of a person's earnings. The
the virus has reduced tax particularly for people with But Diana LaCroix, of Oma- for Trump in 2016, but this tax increase would pay
collections for Social Se- lower-to-middle benefits." ha, Nebraska, says her election some polls show for Biden's proposed ben-
curity and Medicare, likely With the just-announced COLA doesn't cushion ris- Biden even with Trump efit expansions and also
worsening their long-term COLA, the estimated av- ing health care costs most among older voters, or extend the life of program's
financial condition. But erage Social Security pay- years. And she has new ahead. Trump has kept his trust fund by five years,
there's been no real dis- ment for a retired worker responsibilities. Her young- promise not to cut Social to 2040, according to the
cussion of either program will be $1,543 a month next est daughter and two Security benefits, but this nonpartisan Urban Institute.
in the personally charged year. A typical couple's grandsons moved in with summer he sent confusing Jane Whilden lives in a
election contest between benefits would increase her this summer after the signals with a plan to tem- household that leans heav-
President Donald Trump $33 to $2,596 per month. daughter's landlord de- porarily suspend collection ily on Social Security. The
and Democrat Joe Biden. "The guaranteed benefits cided to sell the house they of certain taxes that fund southern New Jersey resi-
"It's very difficult to talk provided by Social Security were renting. LaCroix, re- the program. While the dent retired early from a
about anything policy- and the COLA increase are tired from customer service White House staff said it local government job to
wise," said Mary Johnson, more crucial than ever as jobs, is now buying diapers was a limited measure that serve as the main caregiver
an analyst with the non- millions of Americans con- some days as she scroung- would have no lasting im- for her family, including her
partisan Senior Citizens tinue to face the one-two es for good deals on hand pact, Trump kept hinting to mother and her husband, a
League. "We are looking punch of the coronavi- sanitizer. "Something's got reporters that he had much retired trucker.q

Message of unity replaces torched

Biden-Harris farm display

DALTON, Mass. (AP) — A burning it down on Friday If we respect unity and
stack of hay bales on a evening. No one was hurt. love, it makes the names
Massachusetts farm dec- The new, nearly identical on the political message
orated in support of the stack of hay bales now less important."
Democratic presidential says "Love, Unity, Respect" The suspect, Lonnie Durfee,
ticket that was burned and features a pair of U.S. 49, of Dalton, pleaded not
down has been replaced flags, a globe and the word guilty Tuesday to burning
with a similar display with a "VOTE." personal property. He was
different message. Farm owner Dicken Crane held without bail pending
The original display at Holi- told The Boston Globe he a hearing to determine
day Brook Farm in Dalton decided on the new mes- whether he is a danger to Farmer Dicken Crane stands beside wrapped hay bales Sunday,
featured 19 wrapped hay sage after seeing the wide- society, which is scheduled Oct. 11, 2020, painted with the messages "Love, Unity, Respect"
and "VOTE" that he constructed at his farm in Dalton, Mass.
bales painted with the spread attention drawn by for Friday, The Berkshire Ea- Associated Press
words "USA" and "VOTE" his first display. gle reported.
along with the names of "We really didn't want Prosecutors requested the attorney. cording to the police re-
Democratic presidential to increase the divisive- hearing based on a prior Durfee used motor oil and port.
nominee Joe Biden and ness around the election," arrest for assault and bat- gasoline to set the display He apologized and offered
vice presidential candi- Crane said Monday. "It's tery in 2014. alight because he "dis- to pay for the damages,
date Kamala Harris. a message that we really A voicemail message was agreed with the political estimated at about $2,000,
A local man is accused of hope this country is about. left Tuesday with Durfee's stance it represented," ac- the report said.q