The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1365997
Is it TIME for your next eye exam? 8–7 . Mon. 8–noon . Tues. 10–7 . Wed. 8–5 . Thur. 8–5 . Fri. Locally Owned and Operated Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th Street, Petersburg 812-354-9400 Dear Rusty: I am 62 and have been a homemaker for much of my adult life. I have a small Social Security account from working years ago. My husband is older, has been the major wage earner and will have a good amount in Social Security when he claims. I have been told that I should claim my social security now. It's a small amount–about $475 per month if I claim it now, and $550 after I'm age 66 –so it's not a life changing differ- ence. But if I claim mine now, when my husband reaches his full retirement age can I switch to claiming spousal benefits on his account? I understand I would no longer get mine, but I'm pretty sure my benefit from him will be a much larg- er amount. Signed: Inquiring Homemaker. Dear Inquiring Home- maker: The simple answer to your question is: yes, if you claim your own small benefit now you can later switch to a higher spouse benefit from your husband when he claims his SS. But there are always consequences for claiming SS benefits early. The maximum spousal benefit you can get from your husband is 50 per- cent of the benefit amount he is entitled to at his own full re- tirement age (FR A). But you only get that full 50 percent if you delay claiming your own Social Security until you reach your own FR A. That doesn't mean you can't claim your own reduced benefit ear- ly, but it means that when you later get your spousal benefit it will be less than 50 percent of your husband's FR A benefit amount. And here's why: Your spouse benefit, when you receive it, will consist of your own earned benefit plus a spousal boost to bring you to your spousal entitlement. Your spousal boost will be the difference between your FR A benefit amount (regardless of when you claim) and half of your husband's FR A benefit amount, and it will be reduced if you haven't yet reached your FR A when your husband claims. That reduced spousal boost will be added to your own actual benefit (reduced if you claim at 62), which will yield a spouse benefit less than 50 percent of your husband's FR A benefit. Said another way, when your husband claims at his FR A, you'll get a reduced spousal boost added to your own already reduced age 62 SS retirement benefit. I can't put this into dollar terms for you without knowing your hus- band's FR A benefit amount. FYI, if your age 62 benefit amount is $475 then your per- sonal benefit amount at your FR A should be about $ 670. Essentially, the longer you wait to claim your own SS, the more your spousal benefit will be because the spousal boost will be added to the benefit you're already receiving. Your spousal benefit reaches max- imum (which is 50 percent of your husband's FR A amount) at your FR A but remember that your husband must be collect- ing his SS for you to claim a spouse benefit. So, here's the bottom line: you can claim your own SS at age 62 but the benefit amount you get will be reduced by 29 per- cent. If your husband claims at his FR A, you will get a spou- sal boost at that time, but the amount of the spousal boost will be reduced because you will not have reached your FR A at that time. The only way you will get the full 50 percent of your husband's FR A bene- fit amount is by waiting un- til your own FR A to claim So- cial Security. However, since your spousal benefit will be the highest amount available to you, waiting and claiming yours at the same time your husband claims his, would also be a pru- dent strategy to less- en the "penalty" for claiming your bene- fits early. One final caution: Any time SS benefits are claimed early (before FR A) there is an "earnings test" which limits how much can be earned from working before SS takes back some benefits. Keep this in mind if you should de- cide to go back to work at any time before you reach your full retirement age. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation. org/programs/social-securi- ty-advisory) or email us at ss- advisor@amacfoundation.org. The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, April 28, 2021 A-5 FRIDAY SPECIALS CHICKEN NOODLE OR CHILI Roast Beef Manhattan $ 8.99 Roast Beef Smothered in Gravy on Mashed Potatoes and Bread with Green Beans or Corn and Drink * Parmesan Baked Tilapia $ 8.99 Baked Potato, Bread and Drink * Stromboli $ 8.99 Our Own Special Stromboli Served with Grippos (Plain or BBQ), Side Salad and a Drink * CHEESY CHICKEN BROCCOLI OR CHILI Chicken and Dumplings $ 8.99 Plate of Chicken and Dumplings, Green Beans or Buttered Peas and Carrots, Baked Apples, Roll and a Drink * WEDNESDAY Boneless Pork Chop $ 8.99 Tender Pork Loin Baked with Special Spices and Parmesan Cheese served with Baked Potato, Green Beans and a Drink * *Your Choice of Regular Co† ee, Tea or Coke Product. Specials and menu items are subject to food availability from suppliers. /RandysAmericanaCafe Like us on Facebook! 7TH & MAIN STREETS • PETERSBURG APRIL 28 - MAY 4 MONDAY VEGETABLE BEEF OR CHILI Spaghetti $ 7.99 Cheesy Mozzarella Toast, Side Salad and Drink* Cheeseburger & Chili $ 8.99 Cheeseburger with a Cup of Chili, Chips and Drink* Pancakes $ 7.99 Choice of Side and Drink* CHILI Biscuits and Gravy $ 7.99 With Your Choice of Bacon or Sausage, Two Eggs and Drink* SATURDAY Stromboli $ 8.99 Our Own Special Stromboli Served with Grippos (Plain or BBQ), Side Salad and a Drink * daily Dine-in & Carry-Out THURSDAY CHEESY POTATO OR CHILI Ham Steak $ 8.99 Thick-Sliced Ham Served with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans or Buttered Peas and Carrots, Roll and a Drink * Meatloaf $ 8.99 Green Beans or Buttered Peas and Carrots, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Roll and Drink * TUESDAY Turkey Manhattan $ 8.99 Turkey Breast Smothered in Gravy on Mashed Potatoes and Bread with Green Beans and Drink * Polish Sausage $ 8.99 with Sauerkraut Served with Cornbread, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, and Drink * HAM & BEANS WITH CORNBREAD OR CHILI Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Cinnamon Rolls Friday Morning Large order? Call by Thursday evening, 812-354-2004. Roast Beef Manhattan $ 8.99 Roast Beef Smothered in Gravy on CHEESY POTATO Thick-Sliced Ham Served with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans or Buttered Peas and Carrots, Roll and a Drink * Roast Beef Manhattan Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Cinnamon Rolls Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Cinnamon Rolls Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Friday Morning Large order? Call by Thursday evening, 812-354-2004. Roast Beef Manhattan $ 8.99 CHEESY POTATO OR CHILI Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Cinnamon Rolls Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Cinnamon Rolls Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Large order? Call by Thursday Mon-Fri 7AM-8PM Saturday 7AM-2PM 812-354-2004 Social Security Matters By Rusty Gloor Can I claim my Social Security now and switch to spouse benefits later? Pike County Purdue Extension news Pike County volunteers saluted April 18-24 Each year, thousands of volunteers in Indiana do- nate their time and energy to make their communities a bet- ter place to live. These volun- teers will be among the mil- lions across the country who will be spotlighted during the 47th anniversary of National Volunteer Week, April 18 -24, 2021. Research reported by the Corporation for National and Community Service found that 30 percent of adult Americans (77.3 million) volunteered 7.9 billion hours of service worth $167 billion in 2018. In 2018 in Indiana, more than 1.81 million volunteers contribut- ed 166.5 million hours of ser- vice, valued at $4 billion. 34.9 percent of Indiana residents volunteered, ranking Indiana 20th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. One group that relies heav- ily on volunteers is the Indi- ana 4-H Program. In 2021 over 13,000 youth and adults are volunteering in some capaci- ty with 4-H. In Pike County, 50 volunteers, both youth and adult, will serve as club lead- ers, project leaders, commit- tee members, and in advisory capacities for the 4-H Youth Development Program. "Volunteers are essential to the success of Pike Coun- ty Extension" says Alex Mahr- enholz Pike County ANR/4-H Extension Educator. "Their unwavering support of not on- ly our 4-H youth, but also our community as a whole, is in- spiring to say the least. While this is the nationwide week for honoring these selfless indi- viduals, it is our sincere hope that they realize how much we appreciate them every day throughout the year. Time is not an expendable gift and we are truly fortunate these incredible volunteers share their precious moments with us and our community." Volunteers spend numer- ous hours working on tasks, such as helping a child with a 4-H project, leading a proj- ect to serve the community, or helping organize an event at the county fair. "I feel volunteering is a so- cial responsibility AND it is good for the soul to give of oneself" says Jill Hyneman, 4-H Council Vice-President. "I love volunteering with the Purdue Extension through the 4-H Council because we work with area youth. I also enjoy working with the Purdue Ex- tension through the Cham- ber of Commerce because they help bring our county the Community Leadership Program." 4-H Program volunteers are just one group of volunteers who are instrumental in carry- ing out the mission of the Pur- due University Cooperative Extension Service. Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the Extension Service, includ- ing determining the needs of the local residents, planning and implementing programs to address these needs, secur- ing resources, and evaluating programs. An example of these vol- unteers is the Pike County Extension Board. The eight member board, which con- sists of appointed county cit- izens, works with the coun- ty Extension staff to plan and oversee Extension activities. Brooke Goble, Pike Coun- ty 4-H/HHS Extension Educa- tor says, "Purdue Extension's Mission is to deliver practi- cal, research-based informa- tion that transforms lives and livelihoods. Without our vol- unteers, we would not be able to achieve this goal. They are the heart and soul of the com- munity and we (Pike County Extension) are so grateful to have them alongside us as we bring more opportunities to Pike County." The work of Extension vol- unteers is continuous. Every day volunteers lend a help- ing hand to make Extension programs more beneficial to the residents of Pike County. Those interested in joining the team of Extension Volun- teers are invited to contact the Pike County Extension Of- fice at Phone: 812-354-6838, Website: https://extension. purdue.edu/Pike, or email: bgoble5@purdue.edu or amahrenh@purdue.edu. Eastwood neighborhood paved A Calcar crew paved streets in the Eastwood neighborhood of Petersburg last week. Petersburg received a grant for 75 percent of the cost of paving from the Community Crossroads program.