by James Firman, National Council on Aging (NCOA) President and CEO

Access to health care, long-term care, and affordable health insurance is a fundamental building block of healthy aging. While NCOA is pleased that many important ACA Medicare provisions remain untouched in the House proposed repeal and replace legislation, we are very concerned about the impact several of the provisions will have on older Americans and their families.

Our greatest concern is with the Medicaid proposals that impact tens of millions of our nation’s most vulnerable, low-income citizens. Although we are grateful the proposal does not turn Medicaid into a block grant program, imposing caps on federal contributions to the program has nothing to do with repealing the ACA, and would fundamentally restructure a 50-year-old federal payment guarantee based on a percentage of actual costs.

Per capita caps would limit federal payments to states based on a preset formula, shifting the risk of rising health costs to states and making it easier to cut the programs by simply dialing down growth rates. We fear that, over time, significant cuts would result in major reductions in services, particularly in states that may be disproportionately penalized by the capping formula. Per capita caps also fail to adjust for Americans’ increasing longevity and need for expensive long-term care.

Medicaid helps pay for care for nearly two out of three nursing home residents and provides more than 3.2 million seniors and people with disabilities access to home and community-based services. We support state innovation and delivery system reforms to improve outcomes and achieve cost-efficiencies, such as shifting from institutional to home and community-based services. However, we are concerned that federal per capita caps combined with cuts could slow innovations that require up-front investments and that flexibility could undermine important federal consumer protections.

We are also troubled that the legislation gradually eliminates the important Medicaid expansion, which extended health insurance coverage to 11 million adults, including about 1.5 million people aged 55-64, and that it repeals incentives to improve access to Medicaid home and community-based services under the Community First Choice program.

While we are pleased that Medicaid assistance with out-of-pocket costs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries would not be subject to the per capita caps, we are concerned that Section 14 of the Ways and Means Committee bill would weaken the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund.

The bill also repeals important premium cost protections for pre-Medicare older adults by increasing the current age rating band from 3:1 to 5:1 or more. For Americans aged 55-64, this will mean premiums could increase as much as several thousand dollars a year and may no longer be affordable. When members of this age group cannot afford care, they often come into Medicare less healthy.

Finally, we were disappointed at the repeal of the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which represents our nation’s greatest commitment to public health and preventive services. This fund has improved access to disease prevention, vaccines, and health screenings for all Americans.

We are disappointed that hearings will not be held before voting on a bill that has far-reaching implications for Americans of all ages and that we will not have the Congressional Budget Office analysis of the bill to know how many people might lose their insurance coverage.

NCOA stands ready and willing to work with the Administration and Congress to craft and implement effective, responsible solutions to improve health care for our citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.

by Social Security Administration

How can I get a form SSA-1099/1042S, Social Security Benefit Statement?

SSA-1099 is a tax form we mail each year in January to people who receive Social Security benefits. It shows the total amount of benefits you received from Social Security in the previous year so you know how much Social Security income to report to IRS on your tax return.

Using your online my Social Security account. If you don’t already have an account, you can create one online. Go to Sign In or Create an Account. Once you are logged in to your account, select the “Replacement Documents” tab;

Must I pay taxes on Social Security benefits?

Some people who get Social Security must pay federal income taxes on their benefits. But, no one pays taxes on more than 85 percent of their Social Security benefits.

You must pay taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. If you file a joint return, you must pay taxes if you and your spouse have “combined income” of more than $32,000. If you are married and file a separate return, you probably will have to pay taxes on your benefits.

How do I earn Social Security credits and how many do I need to qualify for benefits?

We use your total yearly earnings to figure your Social Security credits. The amount needed for a credit in 2017 is $1,300. You can earn a maximum of four credits for any year. The amount needed to earn one-credit increases automatically each year when average wages increase.

You must earn a certain number of credits to qualify for Social Security benefits. The number of credits you need depends on your age when you apply and the type of benefit application. No one needs more than 40 credits for any Social Security benefit.

How do I apply for Social Security retirement benefits?

You should apply for retirement benefits three months before you want your payments to start. The easiest and most convenient way to apply for retirement benefits is by using our online application.

You can apply by phone – 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or In person – Visit your local Social Security office (Call first to make an appointment.)

At what age should I start receiving my Social Security retirement benefits?

Choosing when to start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits is an important decision that affects your monthly benefit amount for the rest of your life.

You can start receiving your retirement benefit as early as age 62, or as late as age 70. If you claim it early, your monthly amount will be reduced. On the other hand, if you delay claiming your benefit, your monthly amount will be increased for each month of delay. These adjustments are permanent for the rest of your life.
The increases from delaying your benefit can be large. For example, a worker with a $1,000 benefit at her full retirement age of 66 would receive $750 a month if she starts her benefit at age 62, or $1,320 a month if she delays until age 70. Married couples have two lives to plan for. If you are the higher earner, delaying starting your retirement benefit means higher monthly benefits for the rest of your life and higher survivor protection for your spouse, if you die first.

Where can I go to find answers and general information quickly about Social Security’s programs and procedures?

You can visit our Frequently Asked Questions webpage located at https://faq.ssa.gov/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=34019&_referrer.Calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; or

Contacting your local Social Security office.

by Peter J. Pitts- Former FDA associate commissioner, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest.

President Donald Trump recently pledged to let federal officials negotiate the prices of drugs covered under Medicare.  He claims this will save taxpayers billions of dollars.

Nobody doubts that Trump and his team are shrewd negotiators. But the sorts of “negotiations” that Trump refers to have nothing in common with haggling over a real estate deal. Instead, the action that Trump has proposed — repealing the non-interference clause, originally drafted by Democratic Senators Ted Kennedy and Tom Daschle — would result in Medicare drug prices going up and patient choice going down.

This clause has been the key to Medicare’s success. Between 2004 and 2013, the Medicare “Part D” prescription drug benefit program cost an extraordinary 45 percent less than initial estimates. Premiums for the program also are roughly half of the government’s original projections.

These unprecedented results are largely due to Part D’s market-based structure. Beneficiaries are free to choose from a slate of private drug coverage plans, forcing insurers to compete to offer the best options to American seniors. This year, seniors can choose from among 746 plans nationwide, with an average monthly premium of around $35.

Such great choice and low costs have led to widespread support for the program. In fact, nine out of ten seniors report satisfaction with their Part D coverage, according to a recent survey.

Through their own negotiations with drug makers, private insurers that offer Part D plans have had great success in keeping pharmaceutical prices down. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office observed that Part D plans have “secured rebates somewhat larger than the average rebates observed in commercial health plans.” The non-interference clause prohibits government officials from intruding in these negotiations.

Doing away with the non-interference clause, on the other hand, “would have a negligible effect on federal spending.” In a report from 2009, the CBO reiterated this view, explaining that such a reform would “have little, if any, effect on [drug] prices.”

In fact, allowing the feds to negotiate drug prices under Part D likely would have a negative effect on the program. The CBO explains that to achieve any significant savings, the government would have to follow through on its threats of “not allowing [certain] drug[s] to be prescribed.”

In other words, the government might drop some drugs from Medicare’s coverage. Patients who need those drugs would then be forced to pay for them out-of-pocket, which would make medicines vastly more expensive for the seniors that Trump wants to help.

If patients couldn’t afford the prescription, then they might switch to a less effective drug or stop taking the medicine altogether. Their health would suffer.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a hypothetical consequence. Just look at what’s happening with the Veterans Affairs formulary, which permits government interference. The VA covers barely 80 percent of the 200 most popular drugs in the country. Medicare, which doesn’t allow for government meddling, covers 95 percent of these medicines.

Letting Medicare go the way of the VA would be devastating for seniors.

Senators Kennedy and Daschle knew what they were talking about. The President should pay close attention.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently confirmed that the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number is being used as part of a telephone spoofing scam targeting individuals throughout the country. These scammers represent themselves as HHS OIG Hotline employees and can alter the appearance of the caller ID to make it seem as if the call is coming from the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). The perpetrator may use various tactics to obtain or verify the victim’s personal information, which can then be used to steal money from an individual’s bank account or for other fraudulent activity. HHS OIG takes this matter seriously. We are actively investigating this matter and intend to have the perpetrators prosecuted.

It is important to know that HHS OIG will not use the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number to make outgoing calls and individuals should not answer calls from 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). We encourage the public to remain vigilant, protect their personal information, and guard against providing personal information during calls that purport to be from the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number. We also remind the public that it is still safe to call into the HHS OIG Hotline to report fraud.  We particularly encourage those who believe they may have been a victim of the telephone spoofing scam to report that information to us through the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or [email protected]. Individuals may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

by Lori Harasta

Scammed!  “How could I have fallen for it?” Peggy Younes asked herself as she hung up the phone.  The next day she found herself testifying about her experience at the Stop Senior Scams presentation at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura.

The Stop Senior Scams Acting Program is a series of skits, cleverly and humorously presented by professional actors that tell tales of one scam after another.  There’s the “Grandparent” scam, the “IRS” scam, and the “Sweetheart” scam.  The latter is when someone reads an obituary, shows up at the door of the surviving spouse and claims he/she knows the deceased, wooing and deceiving the grieving mate.

Then there’s the “Yes” scam.  A cold-caller asks, “Are you the lady of the house?” or “Are you the homeowner?” or “Can you hear me?”  The idea is to get you to say “Yes”. A recording of your “yes” could be used as “proof” that you signed up for a product or service or authorized the use of your credit card.

At the end of the Stop Senior Scams Acting Program, Director Adrienne Omansky encouraged Peggy to stand up and tell her story to the audience.

“It was a cruise scam.  They called and told me I had won a $5,000.00 travel package!  All I needed to do was present a voided check for confirmation. After talking for a while to two very charming ladies, they passed me off to the “certified confirmation officer” who asked what the routing number was on my check, and then kindly requested the nine numbers that followed.  Those guys were good! I’ve never fallen for a scam before!”

Fortunately, with Peggy’s fast thinking, there was a happy ending.  She googled the name of the company and nearly fainted when the word “scam” showed up in the search box.  She quickly called her bank, which immediately closed her account and opened a new one for her.

According to Director Omansky, “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.  We’re all vulnerable. We all need to help each other.”  The actors have all been scammed themselves, a key motivator in their desire to spread the word about how to avoid falling victim.

To report senior scams, call Adult Protective Services (APS) at 654-3200.

Free community education classes and events

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community.  As part of their services, they host free monthly education classes throughout the county which include the following in Ventura and Ojai:

Social Services/Bereavement Groups

Ojai: Caregiver Support Group  Mondays,  March 6th and 20th from 10:00 am – 11:30 am at Continuous Care Center, Fireside Room, 1306 Maricopa Hwy.  Find encouragement and hope during your time as a caregiver.  Share, listen and explore thoughts and feelings about the struggles, losses and successes of caring for your loved one. For more information call 633-9056.

Ojai: Adult Bereavement Support Group March 14th and 28th (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) 10:30 am-noon at Help of Ojai, West Campus 370 Baldwin Rd. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Ventura: Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 6:30-8:00 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109.    These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Ventura: Newly Bereaved Support Group Thursday, March 9th from 6-7:30 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office.  This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].  These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.

Diabetes Class Ventura: Tuesday, March 7th from 1-2:30pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association.  These meetings are held on 1st Tuesday of each month.  General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes including prediabetes, with emphasis on meal planning, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and new developments in diabetes.  Call 642-0239 for more information.

Joint Replacement Classes Ventura: Thursday, March 2nd from 1:00-2:00pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care. These meetings are 1st Thursday of each month.  For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at (805) 642-0239 ext. 739.

Ventura: Monday, March 13th for both English and Spanish speaking.  English 4:00-5:00 pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care.  For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at  642-0239 ext. 739.

by Greg Dill Greg Dill- Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories.

One recent Sunday morning, I woke up to a text message from a coworker saying she’d been up all night with her mother in the emergency room.

Her mom had fallen, broken her hip, and was getting admitted to the hospital for surgery. As you can imagine, my colleague was exhausted, worried, and facing some important decisions. Even as her mom was being prepped for surgery, the hospital’s care coordinator was asking which rehabilitation facility she should be sent to afterwards.

As a fellow official of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), my associate has a better-than-average understanding of the healthcare system. But she’d never had to find a rehabilitation facility for a loved one. So she turned to an online tool CMS developed to help people find a suitable nursing home when they need one. If your friend or relative needs to move into a nursing home but would still like to keep some of their independence, then they may want to consider having a look at Immanuel assisted living locations for further information.

The tool is called Nursing Home Compare and you can find it on our www.Medicare.gov website. Just click on the button that says “Find nursing homes.” Enter your zip code or city and you can begin your search.

Nursing Home Compare assigns from one to five stars to every nursing facility that participates in Medicare or Medicaid, with five stars being the highest rating. These star ratings give you and your family an easy-to-understand summary of three important dimensions of nursing home quality: health inspection results, staffing information, and quality-of-care.

Nursing facilities receive an overall star rating based on three types of performance indicators, each of which has its own star rating:

• Health inspections: Nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid undergo unannounced, comprehensive inspections about once a year.

• Staffing levels: CMS bases staffing ratings on two components: 1) Registered nurse hours per resident day; and 2) total staffing hours (registered nurse plus licensed practical nurse plus nurse aide hours) per resident day..

• Quality measures: These ratings are based on how a nursing home performs on 16 of the 24 quality-of-care measures currently posted on Nursing Home Compare. The measures reflect whether residents got flu shots, are in pain, or are losing weight.

A facility’s overall star rating is a composite of the ratings on the measures above. The core of the overall rating is the health inspection rating, which is adjusted up if the facility receives high staffing or quality-of-care ratings, or down if those ratings are low.

You can compare multiple facilities on Nursing Home Compare, as my colleague did when looking for the best spot for her mother. But keep in mind that star ratings are intended to be combined with other sources of information (such as a doctor’s recommendation) and shouldn’t substitute for visiting the nursing home in person. Indeed, after my coworker identified two possible facilities, she visited the one that had an available room and was pleased to learn it had high ratings for food service, something very important to her mother.

At www.Medicare.gov, you’ll also find “compare” websites for hospitals, home health services, dialysis facilities, medical equipment suppliers, and Medicare-approved health and prescription drug plans.

You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

by Margie Johnson Ware, Aging and Health Specialist and Bonnie Burns, Medicare Specialist

How does having a disability affect my Medicare options?

This is one of the most common questions future beneficiaries ask. Although many boomers are familiar with the eligibility age for Medicare, many others do not realize that you can be enrolled automatically (earlier than age 65) if you’re approved by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit payments.

Before being approved for social security disability benefits by the SSA, they have to evaluate your rights first, such as the severity of your impairment and your inability to work, to name a few. Some people who have had previous experience in this area already know how difficult these applications are to file, and so by seeking out professional help, similar to Crest SSD, they will be able to support your application in order for you to receive the benefits that you are entitled to. Once this has been done, only then will you be eligible for Medicare.

After drawing SSDI for 24 months (2 years), you will be automatically enrolled into both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B (also known as “Original Medicare”) starting the 25th month, and you will receive a Medicare card in the mail. In some cases, you can receive Medicare in less than two years if Social Security determines that your disability started before your disability application date, or if you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

What if I don’t want to be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare? Can I disenroll?

Part A is free for most people, but Part B involves paying a monthly premium. You cannot decline Part A unless you’re willing to pay back all the SSDI benefits you received, so you’ll likely need to keep it even if you are covered by your spouse’s employer insurance.

However, if you have employer coverage, you have the freedom to disenroll from Part B. It is important to check with the employer’s human resources office to find out how their plan works with Medicare Part B. Make sure the company has 100 employees or more-that means the employer insurance will be primary (i.e. that insurance is billed first, and most likely covers more of your care than Medicare Part B). If the employer has less than 100 employees, then your Medicare insurance will be primary-and you’ll therefore need to join Part B.

If you do decide you don’t need Part B, look on the back of your Medicare card for a box you can check to be removed from Part B. Then send the updated card back to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Or call SSA for help with disenrolling in Part B.

Will there be any copays and deductibles (out-of-pocket costs) if I am disabled?

Yes, although if you have employer insurance that is primary to Medicare, you may have fewer out-of-pocket expenses. If you don’t have employer insurance and you are enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you may want additional coverage. You can look for these additional coverage options by looking into the various Disability insurance policies that could be available to you.

For most beneficiaries (regardless of their disability status), the choice comes down to deciding between two main options:

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) combined with an optional Part D plan (prescription drug coverage) and/or an optional supplemental coverage plan to cover the cost gaps in Original Medicare known as Medigap (enrollment is limited for persons under age 65 in many states).

A Medicare Advantage plan (a private managed health plan that usually covers all of these services).

If you are low-income you may also be eligible for Medicaid as a supplement to pay out-of-pocket costs, depending on what the rules are in your state.

Have more questions about choosing the best coverage for your needs? We recommend you try taking the free Medicare Questionnaire tool for access to free professional Medicare advice from a licensed benefits advisor. You can also check out your local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for further assistance, or reach out to your local Aging and Disability Resource Center.

People get diabetes when their blood glucose level, sometimes called blood sugar, is too high. Diabetes can lead to dangerous health problems, such as having a heart attack or stroke, and can even seriously put your feet at risk through peripheral vascular disease. This is why people with diabetes should make sure they have a life insurance policy just in case the worst happened. Visiting policyme.com would be a wise starting point for anyone who has this condition. The good news is that there are things you can do to take control of diabetes and prevent its problems, such as visiting a chiropodist such as diabetes brampton who can assess the state of your feet. It’s so important that you look after yourself if you have diabetes. It can be easily managed if you know what you are doing and follow the proper guidelines. If you are unsure, or just need that little bit of extra help then you can easily get diabetes management help.

Our bodies change the food we eat into glucose. Insulin helps glucose get into our cells where it can be used to make energy. If you have diabetes, your body may not make enough insulin, may not use insulin in the right way, or both. That may cause too much glucose in the blood. Your family doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in taking care of people with diabetes, called an endocrinologist.

There are two kinds of diabetes that can happen at any age. In type 1 diabetes, the body makes little or no insulin. This type of diabetes develops most often in children and young adults.

In type 2 diabetes, the body makes insulin, but doesn’t use it the right way. It is the most common kind of diabetes. You may have heard it called adult-onset diabetes. Your chance of getting type 2 diabetes is higher if you are overweight, inactive, or have a family history of diabetes.

Diabetes can affect many parts of your body. It’s important to keep type 2 diabetes under control. Over time it can cause problems like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, and circulation problems that may lead to amputation. People with type 2 diabetes have a greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Many people have “pre-diabetes.” This means their glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a serious problem because people with pre-diabetes are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. But, there are things you can do to prevent or delay actually getting type 2 diabetes. Losing weight may help. Healthy eating and being physically active for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week is a small change that can make a big difference. You can help track your weight loss by using electronics such as a Fitbit that can monitor activity levels and how you are progressing. Checking out sites like Mobile Mob can help you get the accessories that you need for your device.

Some people with type 2 diabetes may not know they have it. But, they may feel tired, hungry, or thirsty. They may lose weight without trying, urinate often, or have trouble with blurred vision. They may also get skin infections or heal slowly from cuts and bruises. There are several blood tests doctors can use to help diagnosis of diabetes:

Once you’ve been told you have type 2 diabetes, the doctor may prescribe diabetes medicines to help control blood glucose levels. There are many kinds of medication available. Your doctor will choose the best treatment based on the type of diabetes you have, your everyday routine, and other health problems.

Medicare will pay to help you learn how to care for your diabetes. It will also help pay for diabetes tests, supplies, special shoes, foot exams, eye tests, and meal planning. Be sure to check your Medicare plan to find more information.

Studies have shown that most people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within a few years, unless they change their lifestyle. Most people with prediabetes don’t have any symptoms. Your doctor can test your blood to find out if your blood glucose levels are higher than normal.

Losing weight-at least 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight-can prevent or delay diabetes or even reverse prediabetes.

Medicine can help control the amount of glucose in your blood. Ask your doctor if medicine to control glucose is right for you.

by Essie L. Landry, Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration Sierra West Area

Social Security definitely know a thing or two about helping children. Often overlooked in the paperwork that prospective parents fill out in preparation for a child’s birth is an application for a Social Security number and card.  Typically, the hospital will ask if you want to apply for a Social Security number for your newborn as part of the birth registration process. This is the easiest and fastest way to apply.  The Social Security card typically arrives about a week to ten days after that little bundle of joy! You can learn about Social Security numbers for children by reading our publication, Social Security Numbers for Children, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

At www.socialsecurity.gov, we have a variety of services available to you, all from the comfort of your home. You can apply for disability benefits or appeal a disability decision. You can also file for retirement benefits, spousal benefits, or Medicare-only benefits while enjoying leftover pumpkin pie. Our secure, easy-to-navigate website is sure to add plenty of comfort and joy to the festivities.

For the first site of Social Security, we give to you: our home page, www.socialsecurity.gov. It’s the place to go for all things Social Security. Everything you could want — from online services and benefit screening tools to publications and frequently asked questions — you can find all these and more on this site. On the twelfth site of Social Security (and we saved the best for last): open your own personal my Social Security account, which will enable you to verify your earnings, get future benefit estimates, obtain benefit verification letters, update your Social Security information, and more at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. You have to read to column to see what you can find on sites two to eleven.

With the New Year Comes New Changes: Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will see a slight increase in 2017.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $127,200 from $118,500. Of the estimated 173 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2017, about 12 million will pay more because of the increase in the taxable maximum.

Share the gift of security give your loved ones some peace of mind by introducing them to Social Security’s many programs. www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.