The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1244007
A-8 Local Wednesday, May 6, 2020 The Press-Dispatch Committed to Excellence AND HEALTH CARE CENTER Sponsored by the Little Company of Mary Sisters - USA Social Security Matters Should my wife take Social Security at 62? Dear Rusty: I have been advised by my financial plan- ner to start my wife's social security bene- fits at the age of 62 (she is now 61). I am 65 and still em- ployed, not on Medicare, and not taking so- cial security benefits. My wife's benefits are much less than mine. I hope to wait until age 70 before starting my bene- fits. My income is current- ly $160,000. Do you see this as a wise choice to start my wife's SS benefits at age 62? Signed: Planning Ahead. Dear Planning: Wheth- er your wife should start her benefits at age 62 depends upon whether her own ben- efit at age 70 would be more than she is entitled to as your spouse at her full re- tirement age (FR A). You can get these estimates from Social Security. If her own benefit would eventually be higher than her spousal ben- efit from you, she can wait to get her own higher ben- efit at age 70 (as you are). But if her benefit as your spouse will be the highest she can attain, then claim- ing her own benefit before you claim yours could be a good choice, but there are some things to consider if she does that: First, if your wife claims at age 62 (or any age before her FR A), that will mean that her eventual spousal benefit when she claims it (when you claim your SS) will be less than 50 percent of the benefit you are enti- tled to at your full retirement age. Taking her own bene- fit earlier than her FR A will mean her spousal benefit from you will be reduced to less than half of your FR A benefit amount, even if that spousal benefit starts after she has reached her FR A. Second, if your wife is still work- ing, by claiming her own benefit before her FR A she will be sub- ject to Social Se- curity's "earn- ings test" which limits the amount of mon- ey she can make without SS taking back some of her benefits. For 2020, the annu- al earnings limit is $18,240 (changes annually) and SS will take back benefits equal to half of any earnings which exceed that amount. The earnings limit becomes less severe during the year your wife reaches her FR A and goes away entirely after she reaches her FR A, but if she works while collecting early SS benefits the earnings lim- it could affect her benefits. Third, your wife's Social Security benefits will be- come part of your taxable income (assuming you file "married-jointly"). Taxation of your wife's Social Security benefits will be determined based upon your combined income if you file your taxes as a married couple. At your combined earnings level, up to 85 percent of your wife's SS benefits will become part of your taxable income. I'm not suggesting you not follow your financial plan- ner's advice; I only want to make sure you're aware of all the factors involved when benefits are claimed early. Sometimes, a wife claiming at age 62 is a prudent choice as your financial planner has suggested. But sometimes understanding the above factors may lead to a differ- ent strategy. Student Spotlight Hess awarded Kay Bates Mezzo Scholarship Abby Hess was select- ed as the winner of the Kay Bates Mezzo Schol- arship competition for the 2020 -2021 school year. This scholarship is only awarded to junior and senior mem- bers of the Iota Beta chap- ter of Sigma Alpha Iota at Murray State University. Recipients of this scholar- ship must be able to demon- strate vocal proficiency, mu- sical expression and will- ingness to perform in front of a panel of judges, and is named after esteemed past Professor of Voice at MSU, Kay Bates. Abby is the daughter of John and Beth Hess, of Pe- tersburg, and is set to grad- uate from MSU in May 2021 with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education degree, with an empha- sis in oboe, voice and con- ducting. Upon graduation, Hess in interested in teach- ing elementary music and eventually teaching music in a classroom abroad. A f- terwards, she would like to receive a graduate and doctoral degree in Choral Conducting and work at a university as a Professor of Music. On campus, Hess is active in Sigma Alpha Iota- International Women's Music Fraternity, where she serves as Music Direc- tor and Social Committee Chair for the chapter, and Racer Band where she is on the drum line, and is the current cymbal line section leader. She is also active in music in the community, specifically church music at First United Methodist Church of Murray, where she is a scholarship singer. Hess stated, "Growing up, music was something that was always important to me. I remember hum- ming or singing for no rea- son. Through high school, I was very active in both the band and choir pro- grams at PCHS. I am very thankful to have the oppor- tunity to continue making music in college, and to be surrounded by professors and peers that share the same love of music that I have. Having the opportu- nity to be the Kay Bates Mezzo recipient is some- thing I take great pride in, as it is the hardest scholar- ship to win in the Depart- ment of Music at my col- lege. It is especially im- portant to me, as I am only receiving a minor in voice, and my main focus is cur- rently oboe. I cannot wait to see where my future at MSU takes me, and I can- not wait to begin teaching students how to love and appreciate music around them." Local students graduate from Cedarville University Cedarville University cel- ebrated 2020 graduates on Saturday, May 2 with an online Class of 2020 Senior Celebration. This celebra- tion will not replace com- mencement, which will be Homecoming weekend on Oct. 2-3, with full regalia. Olivia Patterson, from Ot- well, graduated with a Bach- elor of Science in Manage- ment and Stephen Bruce, from Oakland City, gradu- ated with a Bachelor of Sci- ence in Nursing. Abby Hess Memorial Hospital announces scholarship recipients Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center recent- ly announced the recipients of scholarships: The first Pike County recipient is Karsyn Pipes, daughter of David and Lo- ri Pipes, who was awarded $500. Karsyn is a senior at Pike Central High School and plans to major in nurs- ing at Western Kentucky University. The second Pike Coun- ty recipient is Shelbi Pipes, daughter of David and Lori Pipes, who was also award- ed $500. Shelbi is a 2018 graduate of Pike Central High School and current- ly attends Vincennes Uni- versity Jasper, majoring in nursing. The first Kathleen M. Tempel Nursing Scholar- ship in the amount of $1,250 was awarded to Regan Mun- dy, the daughter of Chad and Holly Mundy. Regan is a senior at Jasper High School and plans to major in nursing at the University of Southern Indiana. The second Kathleen M. Tempel Nursing Schol- arship in the amount of $1,250 was awarded to Ol- ivia Schroering, the daugh- ter of Leon and Catherine Schroering. Kathleen is a senior at Northeast Dubois High School and plans to major in nursing at Bellar- mine University. The following recipients received scholarships that are funded by grants from the Dubois County Commu- nity Foundation: St. Joseph Hospital Aux- iliary Scholarship in the amount of $ 900 was award- ed to Lillian Hubster, the daughter of Justin Hubster and Ivy Beasley. Lillian is a senior at Southridge High School and plans to major in social work at either In- diana State University or Brescia College. The Doris A. Ackerman and Family Nursing Schol- arship in the amount of $ 950 was awarded to Sarah Pund, daughter of Kenneth and Christine Pund. Sar- ah graduated from Forest Park High School in 2017 and is currently enrolled in the nursing program at In- diana State University. The Mildred E. Schwing- hammer Nursing Schol- arship in the amount of $1,650 was awarded to Lind- sey Mehringer. Lindsey is the daughter of Gary and Brenda Mehringer. Lind- sey graduated from Jasper High School in 2018 and is pursuing a nursing degree at Indiana University. The first of two recipi- ents for the Mabel L. Kue- bler Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $1,750 was awarded to Alexa Hopf, the daughter of Kristina and the late Stanley Hopf. Alexa graduated from Jasper High School in 2018 and is cur- rently majoring in nursing at the University of Evans- ville. The second recipient of the Mabel L. Kuebler Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $1,750 was awarded to Katelyn Sander, daughter of Mark and Tonya Sander. Katelyn graduated from Jasper High School in 2018 and is currently major- ing in nursing at the Univer- sity of Evansville. The Daviess County re- cipient in the amount of $1,000 is Elizabeth Perkins. Elizabeth is a 2014 gradu- ate of Washington Catho- lic High School and is cur- rently attending Universi- ty of Evansville to attain a doctor of physical therapy (DP T) degree. She is the daughter of Richard and Ann Perkins. The first Dubois Coun- ty recipient in the amount of $1,000 is Sherry Knick- erbocker. Sherry graduat- ed from Jasper High School in 1984 and is currently at- tending Indiana Wesleyan University pursuing a mas- ter of social work degree. She is the daughter of Dahl- ia and the late Roger Dunn and the wife of David Knick- erbocker. The second $1,000 Du- bois County recipient is Hal- ey Schroeder. Haley grad- uated from Jasper High School in 2019 and is cur- rently attending Western Kentucky University ma- joring in nursing. She is the daughter of Terry Schroed- er and Julie Schroeder. The Spencer County re- cipient in the amount of $1,000 is Emma Eubank, daughter of Jeff and Heath- er Eubank. Emma is a se- nior at Heritage Hills High School and plans to attend Ball State University to ma- jor in cellular and molecu- lar biology. The following scholar- ships were given in conjunc- tion with the Health Occu- pation Science of America (HOSA) program. Memorial Hospital Foun- dation HOSA Grant in the amount of $1,000 was awarded to Kennedy Be- gle, the daughter of Dean and Donna Begle. Kenne- dy is a senior at Jasper High School and plans to attend either Indiana University or IUPUI to major in exercise science. Betty J. Hoffman Schol- arship in the amount of $4,000 was awarded to Carson Park, the son of Mi- chael and Stephanie Park. Carson is a senior at Jasper High School and plans to major in mathematics and pre-med at Washington Uni- versity in St. Louis. MT. OLYMPUS ALUMNI BANQUET CANCELED Mt. Olympus Alumni banquet scheduled for June 20 has been canceled due to the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Hope to see everyone next year. Stay home and stay healthy. FOR MORE INFO. CONTACT PATTY CRAIG 812-779-7409