sponsored by Friendship Manor

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Counterfeit check Scams:
Throw that fake check away!

[January 21, 2011]  Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan
Con artists never grow tired of using counterfeit check scams to take your money. Many of the fake checks created today look so real that they even fool bank tellers. Don’t let them fool you! By learning to recognize the signs of a counterfeit check scam, you can avoid becoming another victim of this common rip-off. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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IEMA highlights preparedness for people with functional needs Guidebook offers tips to help people with functional needs and their caregivers plan for emergencies

[January 21, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD – While every home should have a disaster preparedness kit stocked with such items as a flashlight, bottled water and a first-aid kit, emergency preparedness is even more critical for households with members who have functional needs. (Click her for the rest of the story)

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Read this if you plan to retire soon 

[January 21, 2011]  Planning to retire in early 2011?  It may already be time to apply. 

Applying for benefits is easier than you think.  Especially if you do it online at www.socialsecurity.gov.  The Social Security website makes the process easy and convenient. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Beware of Tax Refund Loans

[January 21, 2011]  What Is a Tax Refund Loan?

A tax refund loan is an extremely short-term loan that you apply for through your tax preparer, using your anticipated tax return as security. Tax preparers prefer the term “instant tax refund” to describe these loans, but make no mistake: an “instant tax refund” is a LOAN, with all of the costs and fees associated with borrowing money—and then some. Also, you will NOT get your refund that much faster if you take out one of these expensive loans. They simply aren’t worth the price. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Keep Social Security in the loop to avoid improper payments

[January 21, 2011]  If you are receiving Social Security disability benefit payments, it is important to notify us promptly — either in person, by phone, or by mail — whenever a change occurs that could affect your benefits. This is especially true when reporting other income. Errors occur when you fail to report certain types of income timely. If you do not report these amounts, you may have to repay a large part of your benefits. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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40th anniversary: Learning that words have power

By Mike Fak

[January 21, 2011]  Next week it will be my 40^th anniversary of never officially being in the U.S. Army. You see I never said the oath that day, I had gone to the bathroom and when I came back into the room the sergeant told the hundreds of young pups shoved together that we were now all soldiers. I never did use that loophole to just walk away from the whole affair being lucky enough to catch a creampuff assignment. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Getting your Social Security income verification is easy

[January 21, 2011]  There are a number of reasons you may need written verification of your Social Security benefit amount. You may need to provide it to an energy assistance program or for subsidized housing. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Six Tips to Avoid Getting Stuck
in Deep Credit Card Debt

[January 21, 2011]  Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office offers these tips to help seniors avoid high credit card debt. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Do’s and don’ts of Medicare

 Part D
 

[January 21, 2011]  DO shop around and compare the dozens of plans, offered by 16 different companies, to choose from in Illinois. Plans will cover different drugs, use different pharmacies, and have different premiums, deductibles, and co-payments. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Spousal benefits offer increased retirement options

[January 21, 2011]  You may have more options than you know when it comes to Social Security benefits. Like many, you probably have given some thought to your own retirement plans. You know you can retire as early as age 62 and get reduced benefits. You know you can wait until your full retirement age and get full benefits.  You also may know you can defer collecting benefits and accrue delayed retirement credits up to age 70, which will boost your payment. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Social Security's 75th anniversary: an eventful year

[January 21, 2011]  Social Security is the nation’s most successful domestic program.  It’s easy to look back at what a difference it has made over the past 75 years.  And 2010, our diamond anniversary year, has been full of accomplishments. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Christmas 1958, A Sears Blunder Creates a Holiday Extravaganza    By Mike Fak

[January 21, 2011]  Ten years old is a pretty good age to be. At least it was for me back in 1958. I had finally mastered my multiplication tables and could spell most normal words, so school was starting to be less trying, especially when I showed up for it (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Seniors Urged To Apply Online for Illinois   Cares Rx

[January 21, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD – December 20, 2010. Illinois Department on Aging Director Charles D. Johnson is reminding Illinois seniors about their Illinois Cares Rx coverage. He is urging seniors and persons with disabilities to apply online because it is the fastest way to get approved. Illinois Cares Rx is the state’s prescription drug assistance program that provides wrap-around prescription drug coverage to fill in the gaps created under Medicare Part D. People who have waited until the end of the year to apply will experience a break in coverage. Paper applications take longer, but people who apply online today through the end of the year can expect their coverage to resume in early February. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Your Social Security resolutions for 2011

December 20, 2010 It’s that time of year: out with the old and in with the new. You may be thinking about your list of New Year’s resolutions for 2011. There are many important things to consider. May we suggest a few? Each of these will take only a matter of minutes. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Take Steps to Stay Safe and Warm This Winter

[December 17, 2010 SPRINGFIELD – December 17, 2010. As the mercury dips, Illinois Department on Aging Director Charles D. Johnson reminds older persons they are at a higher risk to falling ill during these cold days. (Click here for the rest of story)

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Lottery and Secret Shopper Scams Reported in Western IL.

One of our SMP Volunteers in western Illinois recently reported that a local police department issued a warning about lottery scams and secret shopper scams. The warning states that residents in western Illinois have been receiving letters telling them that they won various lottery amounts, containing fake checks that the recipients are told to deposit, then send money to another address for “documentation and taxes”. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Social Security can show you the way

Social Security’s homepage, www.socialsecurity.gov, has a new look! Our redesigned homepage now features a service channeling guide on the left side of the page, which lists the most sought-after services and information on the site. (Click here for rest of story)

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Ill. A.G. protecting seniors from fraud

As the elderly population grows in Illinois and across our nation, protecting older citizens continues to be one of the most important responsibilities of the Attorney General’s office. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Blundering Through Modern Music

By Mike Fak

In all honesty, I don't understand music anymore. Actually, I never did. I certainly didn't as a young man, because even then I realized most music was goofy. I think I was the only teenager in America who realized that "Love Me Do" by the Beatles, was a poor grammatical foray into telling a girl you have affection for her and would appreciate reciprocity if plausible. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Family gatherings, holiday shopping and Medicare prescription drug plans

When you think of November, you may imagine such things as turkey dinners, family gatherings, Veterans Day, or the start of the holiday shopping season. But newly entitled and current Medicare beneficiaries, who are considering changes to their Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan, might think of November as the time for thinking about Medicare. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Wrap up your retirement application before wrapping up holiday gifts

November 24, 2010]  The holiday season is, for many people the busiest time of year with gift lists and to-do lists, feast planning and party preparation. The busy schedule, like the gift lists, often can get out of hand.  

If you’re planning on retiring sometime early in the new year, we suggest you wrap up your retirement application now before wrapping any holiday gifts. It’s so easy and can take as little as 15 minutes. Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.  (Click here for the rest of the story)

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A Holiday Gift

By Mike Fak

Four years ago I spent a great deal of time on the weekend before Thanksgiving doing something that I doubt anyone would consider normal. I was up in the air in a small ticket booth suspended on the end of an industrial boom. Yeh, I will explain.  (Click here for the rest of this story)

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Social Security Unveils New Home Page at www.socialsecurity.gov

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today unveiled the agency’s newly redesigned home page at www.socialsecurity.gov that will help visitors more quickly and easily find the information and services they need. (Click here for the rest of this story)

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BABY BOOMERS: Apply online for Medicare

This January marks a historic moment: our Nation’s first baby boomers are turning 65.

For many baby boomers, it’s time to hit the computer. Even if you have decided to wait until after you are age 65 to apply for retirement benefits, most people should start getting Medicare coverage at age 65. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Don't be tricked out of money by the 'grandparent scam'

Grandparents across the country are falling victim to a new and surprisingly effective scam: They receive phone calls from people claiming to be their grandkids, frantically asking for money.  Click here for the rest of this story...

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Social Security Fast-Track Disability Processes Get Even Faster

New Rules Will Further Speed Benefits to Tens of Thousands of Americans with Disabilities.  Click here for the rest of this story...

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