Precious Leaks-Gutierrez, Vet Info Community Outreach Director, hosted a Women’s History Month breakfast at Bob Evans restaurant in Temple Terrace, FL, on Saturday, March 25, to honor Veteran women who are part of history by serving in the military. Veterans were treated to breakfast, gift bags, and a fun time.
Thank you to the veterans that attended and all our sponsors.
Members of the Department of Veteran Affairs Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness Holding VISN8 LPOP Challenge Coins presented during a parent committee meeting held in Oahu Hawaii.
During the Department of Veterans Affairs Gulf War Illness Research Advisory Committee meeting held at the Oahu Vet Center in Hawaii members were presented with Challenge coins by the VISN8 LPOP Veteran Advocate who was present. This was given for the hard work and dedication of the advisory members. The Hawaiian Islands are home to 112,000 Military Veterans, 50,000+ Active Duty Service Members, and 9,600 Hawaii State Guard members.
Today Veterans from all over South Florida came to the city of Doral in a somber ceremony celebrating our Nation’s Hero’s. Key Note Speaker Admiral Faller took the time to Thank all the Veterans Past and Present for their Service.
En español | The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Oct. 13 that its annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 1.3 percent, an average boost to retirement benefits of about $20 per month for individuals starting in January.
The modest gain for monthly benefits is the latest in a decade of meager COLA increases. Social Security COLAs have averaged a 1.65 percent increase annually the past decade, with no increase at all to benefits in 2016. The increase that went into effect in January 2020 was 1.6 percent.
“Today’s announcement of a 1.3 percent COLA increase — while modest — is needed to help Social Security beneficiaries and their families try to keep up with rising costs,” says AARP Chief Executive Officer Jo Ann Jenkins. “The guaranteed benefits provided by Social Security and the COLA increase are more crucial than ever as millions of Americans continue to face the one-two punch of the coronavirus’s health and economic consequences. In fact, thanks to recently enacted changes supported by AARP to lower the Medicare premium for next year, more seniors will at least see a small monthly COLA.”
Why so low?
COLAs have been low because inflation has been tame. The annual COLA is based on the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. The CPI-W represents the prices paid by workers for a basket of goods and services. It is not based on a market basket that reflects what retirees purchase — the CPI-E — which represents a market basket that better reflects retiree spending, such as higher costs for health care.
This year’s COLA calculation looks at the average CPI-W index numbers for July, August and September of 2019 and compares them with the numbers for the same three-month span in 2020. The percentage change between the two quarterly averages is the COLA for the following year starting in January. If there’s no change, or if there’s a decline in the CPI-W, there’s no increase in Social Security benefits.
Since Congress initiated automatic annual COLAs in 1975, there have been three years in which benefits didn’t increase at all: 2010, 2011 and 2016. The single biggest increase, 14.3 percent, went into effect in January 1981.
Social Security is funded by a payroll tax of 12.4 percent on eligible wages — employees pay 6.2 percent and employers pay the other 6.2 percent (with self-employed workers paying the entire 12.4 percent). Next year, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase to $142,800 from $137,700. The money paid in by today’s workers goes to cover current benefits, with any excess going into the Social Security trust fund.
Because of the growing number of Social Security beneficiaries — and, in part, a decrease in payroll taxes collected because of pandemic-driven job losses — the Social Security system is facing increased stress. In their annual report, Social Security’s trustees estimated that the trust fund for retired workers and their survivors will run short of money in 2034. A more pessimistic forecast from the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the reserves in the trust fund for retired workers and their survivors will be depleted in 2031. Even at that point, over three-quarters of benefits could still be paid out from incoming payroll taxes.
Gulf War Veteran William “Bill” Watts, Sr.’s service today focuses on helping fellow Gulf War Vets
Gulf War Veteran William “Bill” Watts, Sr., earned numerous awards during his tours of duty, which included tours in Egypt and Korea along with service as a Gulf War combat Veteran, but the reward he values the most today is the one he receives as an advocate helping his fellow Gulf War Veterans with their individual challenges.
“I am in favor of Veterans helping Veterans. Quality of life begins with quality of health care,” said Watts, whose work with Veterans has earned him the Congressional Veterans Commendation Award. His work includes volunteering with Veterans in his community and meeting with researchers and health professionals to make sure that the health concerns of Gulf War Veterans are recognized and addressed.
Watts and other Gulf War Veterans are now marking their 30 anniversary of their Gulf War service. Watts served in the United States Army from 1989 to 1996, in the 4/5 ADA 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Division and 3rd Infantry Division.
One of Mr. Watts’ passions is helping Gulf War Veterans manage their health problems by finding non-drug alternatives. As a resident of the South Florida city of Doral, he volunteers with the non-profit Fishing with America’s Finest and also serves as the group’s first director of operations. Fishing with America’s Finest takes combat Veterans bass fishing in the Florida Everglades to help reduce the stress and anxiety from PTSD. “We try to teach them to the point that they can go on fishing tounaments if they want to,” he said. He is also a team member of Dive4Vets, a group that takes Veterans who suffer from physical and mental health issues scuba diving to help them heal.
Watts understands that some Gulf War Veterans are older and may not be comfortable with completing an online-only registry like the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. A local Environmental Health Coordinator can help with this process.
Watts also is also actively involved in research that benefits Gulf War Veterans. He is a sitting member on VA’s Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses. He also participates in research on the health of Gulf War Veterans at the Miami VA Hospital and volunteers to coordinate and recruit local Veterans for research.
Watts also has to deal with his own health issues related to Gulf War service. Being as active as possible helps him with his symptoms, along with medications. “You have to be active or it will drive you crazy and bring you down even more,” he said.
