How have Social Security benefits in 2022 changed with respect previous years?

Since 1975, Social Security benefits have been indexed using cost-of-living adjustments, with increases ranging from 0% to a high of 14.3% in 1980. After the administration announced a higher-than-normal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022, Social Security beneficiaries will experience the highest rise in benefits in 40 years. The COLA for 2022 was 5.9%, which was somewhat higher than the 5.8% increase announced in 2008.

Inflationary escalation to modest increases

In the early years of indexing benefits to inflation, soaring inflation and severe unemployment forced Congress to act once more, and quickly. It was predicted in the 1980s that the old-age and survivors insurance (OASI) Trust Fund would be unable to pay benefits on time if reforms were not implemented. As a result, in 1983, legislation was passed that gradually increased the age of eligibility while keeping the same level of retirement benefits. Benefits were boosted by 14.3 percent in 1980, which was the largest cost-of-living adjustment since 1950. Inflation has been brought under control in the decades since, limiting annual COLA rises, but there have been spikes during economic shocks like the covid-19 epidemic and its aftermath.

2022 COLA highest in 40 years

COLAs have increased by an average of 1.7 percent per year over the last 10 years, with increases ranging from zero percent in 2016 to 3.6 percent in 2012. The growth for 2022 is currently an outlier at 5.9%, the biggest since 1982, when it was 7.4%, just beating the 5.8% increase in 2008.

When Social Security payments are based on the cost-of-living adjustment when the boost takes effect, this year’s increase means $92 more each month in dollar terms. This corresponds to $1,657 per month for the average retired Social Security recipient. Benefits increased by only $20 the previous year due to a 1.3 percent COLA increase, bringing the average monthly payment to $1,565.

Despite the fact that inflation is projected to continue high until the end of the year, the Federal Reserve predicts that it will fall to around 2% next year.

How have Social Security benefits in 2022 changed with respect previous years? – AS.com

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Common Questions About Social Security Disability Benefits

Why are some people able to get Social Security income earlier than others?

In general, eligible employees and their families receive Social Security payments depending on their earnings. Employment taxes pay for this program, which is known as Retirement, Survivor, and Disability Insurance (RSDI). As a result, if an eligible worker becomes disabled, or if a surviving spouse or child of an eligible worker becomes disabled, they may apply for Social Security payments before retirement age. Furthermore, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which is supported by general taxation, gives income to the poor, those deemed to have insufficient income or resources, and those who are blind or disabled but do not meet RSDI eligibility standards.

How does someone qualify to get disability income from Social Security?

To be eligible for Social Security disability payments, you must have worked in Social Security-covered employment for a long time and recently enough, and you must have a medical condition that matches the agency’s definition of disability.

The amount of labor credits required to qualify for disability payments is determined by your age when you become disabled, according to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) website. In most cases, you’ll need 40 credits, 20 of which must have been acquired within the last ten years before the year you became incapacitated.

Work credits are calculated based on your total annual salary or self-employment income, and the amount required to earn them varies from year to year. Younger workers may be eligible for disability benefits despite having fewer credits.

In terms of medical disability, the following criteria must be met in order to be considered eligible: 1) You are unable to perform previous job due to a medical condition; 2) You are unable to adjust to new work due to a medical condition; and 3) Your disability has lasted, or is likely to remain, for at least one year or is expected to result in death.

Only total disability, not partial or short-term disability, is covered by Social Security. In light of the worker’s age, education, and experience, the handicap must be so severe that he or she is unable to work.

It takes several steps to apply for Social Security Disability benefits. If you believe you might be eligible, visit social security offices near me to see if you qualify

Is there any way to expedite an application for Social Security disability benefits?

Compassionate Allowances and Quick Disability Determinations, according to the Social Security Administration, are two efforts meant to speed up the processing of new disability claims. These projects employ technology to identify claimants with the most severe disabilities, allowing the Social Security Administration to make decisions on such cases more quickly while retaining accuracy, and in some situations, allowing applications to be approved in days rather than months. Compassionate Allowances shorten the time it takes for people with the most significant disabilities to get a disability decision. It involves cases that are typically disability-eligible, allowing for a determination as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed.

Questions on Social Security disability income, benefits – InsuranceNewsNet

For more information regarding social security disability benefits, visit social security locations and social security offices near me
as well as the social security administration website

Civil Engineers Career Information

Civil Engineers

Civil engineers are the architects of most infrastructure in the U.S. and around the world. Roadways, highways, bridges and the layout of most planned communities are all the work of civil engineers. Civil engineers make sure bridges won’t collapse when a train crosses them or that roadways won’t end up sitting under a lake during a rainy season. Good highway design that helps ease congestion is also the work of civil engineers.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Civil engineers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a specialized field of civil engineering or a related field like civil engineering technology. More senior positions generally require advanced degrees. In addition to a degree, civil engineers that provide services to the public, such as designing roadways or other types of public infrastructure must also be certified and licensed.

Unlike some fields, you cannot obtain a civil engineering job through work experience in a related field or through on-the-job training, you must have a degree to obtain a position as a civil engineer. Engineering is, of course, a STEM field, so if you aren’t comfortable with subjects like advanced calculus, physics, geometry or algebra then civil engineering may not be the best career path for you.

SALARY

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for civil engineers in 2018 was around $84,000 or about $41 an hour.

View How Much Civil Engineers Make by State By Visiting Salary.guide

JOB GROWTH

Civil engineering is not as much a growing profession as it is a stable one. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates approximately a 6% growth rate, which is about the national average among all fields and professions. They also estimate there were just over 325,000 civil engineering jobs available in 2018, so there is plenty of work to go around.

Much like doctors or lawyers, there will always be a need for civil engineers. Public infrastructure is constantly wearing down and needing to be replaced along with new buildings and infrastructure needing constant repair and replacement. In addition, the training, tools, and methodologies of civil engineering are the same the world over, so a civil engineer can find work or put their skills to work almost anywhere in the world with little to no additional education required. Although, certification or licensing requirements may be different, which can also vary from state to state even within the U.S.

What are the Causes of Eye Pain

Eye pain may be minor or it may be an indicator of a serious condition. It can be either sudden in onset or can be a long term problem. Most eye pain usually resolves itself in a short time, but there are times when medical action is necessary.

Eye pain can occur on the surface of the eye, or it may occur within the eye itself. Surface eye pain is referred to as ocular. Knowing where the eye pain is directed you to both causes and necessary treatments. Most eye pain subsides on its own, but sometimes it can be an emergency.

Eye pain on the surface of the eye is often caused by an infection or an injury or trauma to the eye. Usual treatment might be eye drops or rest. Sometimes rest can involve avoiding bright lights, using dark-colored glasses, wearing an eye patch over the injured eye, or sleeping extra.

The causes of the ocular eye pain are things like foreign objects such as windblown particles, or infections like conjunctivitis, or trauma like sports injuries. These respond well to rest and eye drops. Heat packs or cold packs are also helpful. You may treat them yourself but should first check with your doctor. You may have a sty or a cyst on your eyelid, and you need to have a doctor attend to these things.

Doctors refer to pain within the eye as orbital eye pain. The causes of these eye pains are more serious. A puncture wound to the eye needs immediate attention. Other causes also need medical help but are not emergencies.

Glaucoma causes eye pain. It has to do with increasing pressure within the eye. It needs to be treated by a professional who will prescribe treatments like an assortment of eye drops or other therapies. Other common causes of orbital eye pain are sinusitis, which causes the sinuses to put pressure on the eyes, and migraine headaches. These are treated with medication.

There are a variety of causes of eye pain. Some of them are emergency situations. See a doctor if you have a sudden loss of vision for any reason. It can be a serious condition like a detached retina. Get medical treatment for chemical burns or heat burns to the eye area or for puncture injuries.

There are many causes of eye pain and your eye health can indicate your overall well being. Use good precautions to prevent eye pain and vision loss.

Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses. Use goggles when working around chemicals and in situations where particles can fly into your eyes. Replace old contact lenses as your optometrist suggests. Always make sure your hands are clean when they are near your eyes. Be aware of vision changes and get regular checkups.

Eye pain can be serious, or not. If you have any doubts about your eyes, call the doctor. For more information on pain-related topics visit pain.help today. Your vision is a precious asset that you want to maintain for life.

5 Things You Can Do to Increase Social Security Success

Now is the time to think about your future and plan how you can get there. Today we’re going to show you five steps that can help you create the most Social Security success as possible. Planning your future may seem overwhelming at first, but the following are five easy tasks that you can do:

Step 1: Get to know your Social Security — You’re going to be working side by side with Social Security for the entirety of your life, and there is an incredible amount of information you’re probably missing regarding benefits and services from the SSA. Social Security provides financial aid to millions of children and adults before they retire; this includes those suffering from chronic illness, children of deceased parents, and wounded veterans.

Step 2: Verify your earnings — How much benefit you receive is determined by a calculation involving your earnings record. You can sign into your my Social Security account to make sure that your earnings record accurately reflects your actual earnings.

Step 3: Estimate your benefits — You can estimate your future retirement or disability benefits by using the SSA’s Retirement Estimator which uses your actual earnings record in its calculation.

Step 4: Apply for benefits — You can apply for retirement, Medicare, or disability benefits online through the SSA’s simple yet secure online application that is easy to navigate.

Step 5: Manage your benefits — Social Security puts you in control by providing convenient and secure services that meet your needs. Verify your payment information, change your address or phone number, get a benefit verification letter, and even start or change direct deposit of your benefits.

Visit www.socialsecurityofficesnearme.com to locate the Social Security office nearest your location.

Handling a Reckless Driving Charge in Virginia

In the state of Virginia, reckless driving is a ticket generally issued when you speed by going either 20 miles over the posted speed limit or go faster than 80 miles per hour regardless of the posted limit. Even if you aren’t speeding, if you are driving in a manner that a police officer judges to be a danger to other people’s lives or property, you can still be issued a reckless driving citation.

Since drivers are generally handed a ticket rather than arrested for reckless driving, many underestimate the seriousness of the charge, believing it to be a simple moving infraction. In Virginia, however, reckless driving is actually a misdemeanor offense, which means that being found guilty will result in a criminal record. In addition to a criminal record that stays with you for life, a reckless driving misdemeanor can also mean points on your license, possible license suspension, a penalty of up to $2,500, and up to a year in jail.

With consequences this serious on the line, it is critical that you not try to handle a reckless driving case on your own. Finding a Virginia attorney who specializes in reckless driving cases is the best thing you can do to protect yourself and your future from the severe effects of being found guilty of reckless driving.

Many people fear the cost of hiring an attorney or don’t think they have the time to find one, but given the penalties you could receive for a misdemeanor conviction, having an attorney on your side saves you both time and money in the long run. Additionally, the peace of mind provided by having an experienced attorney handling your case significantly reduces the stress of dealing with the court system and will help you secure a better outcome than trying to navigate legal arguments alone.

Because reckless driving in Virginia constitutes a criminal act, it is very important to find an attorney to work with you on dealing with the charge. What might at first seem like a simple traffic ticket can quickly become a life-changing event that will never go away? If you’ve received a reckless driving ticket, don’t wait for the situation to become worse!

Contact a reckless driving Virginia attorney who specializes in handling reckless driving cases immediately to get experienced and knowledgeable help on your best options for minimizing the severe consequences of a reckless driving charge.

What You Need To Know: Starting a Garden in Washington State

When you want to have a flower, herb or vegetable garden in Camas, Wash., it is important to plan ahead. Here are a few tips from knowledgeable gardeners who understand valuable landscaping and gardening techniques. 

Tip 1: Read Books and Watch Videos 

Check your local public library for books and videos about gardening. Take notes so that you can plan your garden for our geographic zone. You can also find free information online from other experienced gardeners. 

Tip 2: Contact a Local Gardening Club 

Perform an online search to determine if there is a nearby gardening club. The other individuals in the club can help you at meetings, or they might visit your property to determine what type of soil is available. 

Tip 3: Choose a Garden Location 

Think carefully about where you want a garden located. You won’t want to have a garden where people might walk, and if you have children or pets, then they will need a place to play. It is also a bad idea to have a garden above utility lines such as sewer or gas lines. 

Tip 4: What Do You Want to Plant? 

Certain types of plants work well together while other plants will destroy each other. If you are a novice gardener, then you should choose easy to grow plants such as tomatoes, bell peppers and zucchini. Many herbs such as basil or chives are also easy to plant, care for and harvest. You may want to add some flowers to your garden because some types will repel insects. 

Tip 5: Have the Soil Analyzed 

To understand what types of fertilizers are required, you should have the soil of a garden analyzed. Some gardening stores will analyze your soil for free so that you can buy bags of fertilizer right away to mix into the soil at your garden plot. 

Tip 6: When Is the Best Time for Planting? 

It is important to determine when the best time for planting is in Camas, Wash. A gardening book from the library or an online website can provide the best day for planting seedlings or seeds in a garden. However, it is also important to understand the local weather conditions before planting anything. 

Tip 7: Buy Your Lawn and Garden Supplies 

You will need shovels, trowels and rakes along with small flowerpots, fertilizer and weed killers for your garden. To make your life easier, you can shop at a store that sells a wide assortment of lawn and garden supplies. 

Tip 8: Preparing the Soil in a Garden 

When you have a new garden, soil preparation is time-consuming and strenuous. You can make it easier by having a friend from your local landscape supply in Camas available to use mechanical equipment to dig and turn the soil. You may need to remove rocks before mixing in the fertilizer. Learn how to weed your garden in addition to eliminating pests throughout the summer. Begin planting your seeds and seedlings right away so that you can enjoy fresh produce.

How To Qualify For Disability In Texas

To start qualifying for disability, you need to possess enough work experience in jobs that are recognized by the Social Security Administration. You also need to have a valid medical condition which falls under the SSA’s definition of disability. Typically, the SSA will provide monthly disability benefits to those who’ve been unable to work for at least a year due to their condition. 

If you qualify for disability benefits you will receive them monthly until you can return to work. Work incentives, which supply continued benefits and health care coverage, are provided as well to ease your transition back into the work force. 

If you are receiving disability payments at your full retirement age, the SSA will automatically convert your disability payments into retirement benefits, but the payment amount will stay the same.

How Long Do You Need To Work?

Other than possessing a valid medical condition that fits the SSA’s disability definition, you need to have worked long enough and fairly recently to qualify for disability benefits.

The SSA awards work credits based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income, with the capacity to earn no more than 4 credits per year.

The amount required to receive a work credit varies year to year. For example, in 2018 you receive one work credit for each $1,320 in wages or self-employment income. When you’ve reached $5,280, the SSA awards you 4 work credits, the maximum, for that year. 

How many work credits you need to become eligible for disability benefits is dependent on the age of when you became disabled. Typically, the SSA requires 40 credits, 20 of which must be earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you became disabled. On the contrary, if you’re a younger work then you could qualify with fewer credits. 

The key thing to note about the SSA’s work credit requirement is no matter your age, you need to have earned enough work credits within a certain period ending with the year you entered disability. If you’re eligible at this moment to receive disability benefits but stop working under Social Security, you may not meet the SSA’s work credit requirement later on.

What Is Disability To Social Security?

The Social Security Administration’s definition of disability is unlike other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability, they will not award benefits for partial disability or for short-term disability.

The SSA considers you disabled if:

  • You cannot meet the job requirements of your previous occupation,
  • You are determined to be unable to adjust to other work due to your medical condition(s); and
  • Your disability has remained or is expected to remain for at least a year or result in death.

Social Security is very strict on this definition of disability. The Social Security disability program assumes that working families have access to other resources that provide assistance during periods of short-term disabilities such as workers’ compensation, insurance, savings, and investments.

How Does The SSA Decide If You’re Disabled?

If you have accumulated enough work credits to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, then the SSA will begin their 5-step process. The steps are 5 questions which are:

1. Are you working?

If you are currently employed in 2018 and your earnings average more than $1,180 each month, you typically will not be considered disabled.

If you are not working, the SSA will send your disability application to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office where your medical condition be evaluated to see if you qualify. The DDS uses Steps 2-5 (found below) to make a decision.

2. Is your condition “severe”?

Your medical condition must impair your ability to complete basic work tasks such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, and memory recollection, lasting for at least 12 months. If it does not, the DDS will not consider you disabled.

If your condition does impair your ability to complete basic work tasks, the DDS will move to step 3. 

3. Is your condition recognized by the Social Security Administration?

For every major body system, the SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that are considered severe enough that it prevents someone from earning substantial gainful activity. If your condition is not on the list, the SSA will need to decide if it is as severe as a medical condition that is already on the list. If it is, the DDS will determine that you are disabled. If not, the DDS proceeds to step 4.

The DDS have two methods that are designed to speed up the processing of new disability claims:

  • Compassionate Allowances: Specific cases that typically qualify for disability can be permitted as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. An example of this would be acute leukemia, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and pancreatic cancer. 
  • Quick Disability Determinations: The DDS uses advanced computer screening to sort cases with a high probability of allowance. 

4. Can you complete the work you did in the past?

Step 4 is where the DDS decides if your medical condition(s) prevents you from completing any of your previous work. If it doesn’t, the DDS will decide that you do not qualify for disability. If it does, they will continue to step 5. 

5. Can you work any other job?

If you’re unable to complete work done previously, the DDS will determine if there are any other jobs you could work despite your condition(s).

The DDS considers your medical condition(s) and age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may possess. If you are unable to work, the DDS will decide that you’re eligible for disability. If you can do other work, you will not be considered disabled and your disability claim will be denied. 

Submitting Your Disability Claim

You can submit your Social Security disability claim conveniently online. You can also schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office to file an application. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday or contact your local Social Security office.

A few of the most popular Social Security Offices in Texas are provided below:

SAN ANTONIO TX 78206

DALLAS TX 75215

HOUSTON TX 77039

Fraud Prevention Company Introduces New Capabilities

A leading provider of fraud detection and prevention software solutions recently announced that they have expanded the capabilities of their FraudForce solution by increasing the accuracy and protection of fraud prevention rules.

“Fraud prevention and authentication are increasingly about protecting user experience while securing transactions,” said Scott Waddell, CTO, iovation. “We are introducing these user experience enhancements to make sure the security teams we serve can manage policies efficiently while guarding against unauthorized policy changes.”

iovation customers will now have the ability to protect additional application points with reduced time, effort and resources associated with managing large, complex sets of fraud detection policy rules. They can now respond immediately to new threat vectors by making one change across multiple rule sets, supporting them as they keep up with rapid rollout of new applications and services by packaging the most important rules for easy deployment. Additionally, these new capabilities ensure that organizations can comply with new security requirements such as those from the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Fraudsters are increasingly using more sophisticated techniques for their online fraud attacks and are expanding their focus outside of typical credit card related crimes. Fraud prevention professionals need better ways to manage fraud and policy rules across multiple applications and multiple points.

The specific capabilities iovation has added to their FraudForce fraud prevention software solution include:

  • Integration Points: Using logical mapping, fraud teams can visualize how their application is being protected, as well as allowing them to quickly change their fraud prevention implementations without the need for additional coding.
  • Advanced Rule Re-use: This new capability can reduce the number of rules needed by as much as 98 percent. Be re-using rules, teams can save the time that it takes to manually create and edit rules while also reducing the possibility for errors.
  • Rules Staging: Companies can quickly adjust fraud prevention strategies in real-time, such as slightly loosening fraud prevention efforts during a sales promotion or tightening them during non-work hours. This capability also allows businesses to work on their fraud prevention implementation offline.
  • Rule Permissions and Control: In an effort to battle insider fraud as well as inadvertent changes, iovation supports a permissions-based approach to rule management. This critical business information asset is protected by separating these capabilities between multiple individuals.

iovation is a leading provider of fraud detection and prevention software solutions as well as two factor authentication solutions and multifactor authentication solutions for a wide range of industries.

For more information on their solutions visit www.iovation.com

Information On Motorcycle Accident Laws In Washington State

Motorcycle accidents are prevalent all over the United States, including Washington State. traffic, distracted drivers and high rates of speed all play a factor in these types of accidents. While motorcycle accidents are not more common than automobile accidents, victims are more likely to suffer serious injury because they have little protection to absorb the impact. The following is an overview of personal injury law and how it pertains to those injured in motorcycle accidents.

What Is A Personal Injury Lawsuit?

A personal injury lawsuit is an action an accident victim can file in court in order to obtain monetary compensation for accident related expenses and injuries. Every state has a statute of limitations which must be followed when filing a lawsuit. In Washington State, accident victims must have their case filed in court within 2 years from the date of the accident.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Those hurt in motorcycle accidents may suffer many different types of injuries that range from mild to debilitating. The most common injuries seen in motorcycle accident victims are:

  • Severed Limbs
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Closed Head Injuries
  • Spinal Cord Injuries With Or Without Paralysis
  • Crush Injuries
  • Facial Lacerations Or Disfiguration
  • Multiple Broken Bones

Brain injuries are the most common cause of serious injury and death among motorcyclists. This is especially common if the rider does not follow the helmet law set forth in Washington State. Those who are sustain head injuries in an accident and do not have a helmet on may have a difficult time obtaining a settlement in a personal injury case.

How Can A Lawyer Help

Personal injury lawyers have years of experience working to protect the rights of accident victims. A lawyer may help you by:

  • Obtaining A Police Report
  • Hiring Accident Investigators
  • Speaking With Witnesses
  • Negotiating A Settlement With The Insurance Company
  • Filing Your Lawsuit Documents In Court
  • Represent You At Trial

Being injured in a motorcycle accident is a trying time, but there is help available. Contact a personal injury lawyer for information on how to move forward with a personal injury case.