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Low-income seniors, including about one-quarter of all Notch Babies, may be feeling the effects of the expiration of federal stimulus funding for Medicaid that ended recently. The recession drove up Medicaid enrollment sharply, but the federal government stepped in with extra funding to help states cover the costs. Increased enrollment and decreased funding have led states to eliminate some benefits and increase the co-payments they charge..When it comes to the quality of everyday life for seniors, one of the most important variables is access to prescription drugs. Many folks take them every day without a second thought. But what if you could no longer afford these important medications, or, if you had to choose between them and other necessities like food or rent? Even slight price increases can create real financial burdens for many seniors and their families. Unfortunately, the price of prescription drugs has been on the rise over the last several years and that doesn't seem to be slowing down. And a big part of the reason is underhanded collusion by some drug companies themselves. Drug manufacturers have figured out a way to beat the system and guarantee money in their pockets at your expense..However, waiting until your full retirement age qualifies you to receive 100% of the amount your ex-spouse received when he died. The amount you receive is based on your ex-spouse's basic benefit and depends on the age at which you file a claim. If you file for a survivor's benefit prior to your full retirement age, the amount of the survivors benefit you receive would be reduced, but your own retirement benefit would be delayed and continue to grow to its maximum until you reach age 70. You could switch if it is higher than your survivors benefits..He had demanded a payroll tax cut previously this year. Thankfully, Congress did not go along with him when it passed the previous legislation meant to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and the ailing economy that resulted..To learn more about how work affects your benefits, call the Social Security Administration toll free at and ask for How Work Affects Your Benefits.Then on Monday there was a report that Congressional negotiators were closing in on a government spending bill agreement after keeping the funding for Veterans Affairs Mission Act under the .4 trillion budget cap, a significant victory for the House Republicans who insisted on this provision, according to two congressional aides..Eye exams, eye glasses, and contact lenses..President Trump's budget includes billion in cuts from the Social Security Disability Insurance program over the next 10 years despite the President's repeated campaign promises that he would not touch Social Security benefits. Trump's budget Director Mick Mulvaney justified the cuts, arguing that SSDI was not technically part of "mainline" Social Security, and therefore the President was not breaking a campaign promise. Said Mulvaney, "If you ask 999 people out of a thousand, they'd tell you Social Security disability is not part of Social Security.".If you are still in the retirement planning stage it's well worth the time and effort to learn all that you can about your retirement options, how much you should be saving, and what programs might be available to help you do a better job of planning your retirement. Check your community resources for retirement information, like workshops at local senior centers, libraries and community colleges, before making any decision about when to start benefits.