Proposed Cuts to Social



You may have heard by now that there are proposed cuts to Social Security and are not sure if this true or not, well, unfortunately, it is actually true.

Social Security is in trouble.

Before diving into the who’s and what’s of these proposed cuts to Social Security it must be stated that something Needs to be done really soon as the program is in big trouble on paper.

Since 2018 the part of the Social Security program that provides retirement benefits (OASI) is and will be running at a loss each and every year.

This means that the amount of benefits that the OASI is providing to retirees is greater than the amount of money that the program brings in.

To provide some clarity on this huuuuge problem:

In 2018, according to the Trustees of Social Security:

  • The total cost to provide benefits within the OASI program = $853.4 million.
  • Total revenue for that year = $831.0 million.

There is an obvious shortfall of $22 million and the problem is not getting better, in fact the gap between benefits verse revenue is widening.

By 2022, according to the Trustees, the problem became:

  • The total cost to provide benefits within the OASI program =. $1,097.5 billion
  • Total revenue for the year = $1,056.7 billion.

The shortfall grew to $40.8 million in just 4 years and, again, the problem is growing larger annually.

The Trustees of Social Security, in its 2023 Annual Report, is reporting that:

  1. The costs to run the program are going to inflate by over 6.40%
  2. The revenue to provide benefits is only going to grow by 4.90%.

At these rates by 2032 the shortfall for the OASI part of Social Security will be $428.3 billion!

This is why the media is reporting that by 2032 the Social Security program may become insolvent.

Is Social Security really going broke?

What are the current proposed cuts to Social Security?

The Social Security Administration has 9 proposals for cuts to the program which all begin by the end of 2024 and they are:

1st Proposal: Reduce the annual COLA by 1 percentage point.

  • This option will decrease Social Security benefits for retirees.

2nd Proposal: Reduce the annual COLA by 0.5 percentage point.

  • Like option #1, this proposal will decrease Social Security benefits for retirees. The only difference is the decrease will be half of Option #1.

3rd Proposal: Compute the COLA using a chained version of the consumer price index for wage and salary workers (CPI-W).

  • The Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) uses the 3rd Quarter monthly averages of the Consumer Price Index for Workers (CPI-W).
  • Social Security takes the averages of these 3 months in the 3rd Quarter and compares them to the previous year’s 3rd Quarter.
  • If the average is greater than the previous year, then there will be a COLA for those receiving benefits.
  • Chained Weighted CPI-W is a more accurate average where certain averages are disregarded if they are not in the norm.
  • This proposal will decrease benefits going forward.

4th Proposal: Compute the COLA using a chained version of the consumer price index for wage and salary workers (CPI-W) but start it in 2026 instead of 2024.

  • This proposal will decrease Social Security benefits for retirees, but will start 2 years later.

5th Proposal: Add 1 percentage point to the annual COLA for beneficiaries who have lived past a “specified age”.

  • It appears that only certain retirees who are a certain age and older will receive a COLA going forward.
  • This proposal may lower benefits across the board for retirees, but the good news, those retirees who reach the specific age may receive a COLA that would be higher than before.

6th Proposal: Compute the COLA using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E).

  • The CPI-E tracks the expenses specifically for Americans who are 62 years of age or older.
  • Historically this Index is much lower than what the Social Security Administration uses and may lead to lower Social Security benefits for retirees.

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In the dynamic world of communication technology,VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has become an efficient and versatile solution for all Business sizes. But myths and misconceptions often surround it due to little information on what they are and how they work.

VoIP phones are similar to regular phones. But instead of telephone wiring,VoIP phones use an internet connection. VoIP service turns audio messages into digital codes,which will be sent online. It will then be received by another VoIP or a regular Phone,where its digital code will be turned into audio signals.

This article will address the common myths and misconceptions that may have prevented you from embracing this transformative communication tool. By the time you reach the end of this article,we hope you’ll have the insights you’ll need to make informed choices that can empower your business with unified communications.

Myth #1: VoIP Phones Require High Internet Speed

VoIP phones will need a minimum of 90-100 kilobits per second of internet speed for a quality voice call. This means that even with a low Internet speed of less than 15 megabits,VoIP phone communication can carry through. Another advantage of VoIP phones is that because they work online,they do not go down even in power outages as long as there’s an internet connection. 

Myth #2 VoIP Phones Are Not Secure

The security of VoIP communications will depend on your phone service. At F2F Telecommunications,every plan has a firewall to maintain your phone system’s security. A firewall protects your network and devices by verifying incoming data,where it comes from,and whether they are safe. A firewall makes your network less vulnerable to hackers.

Myth #3: VoIP Phones are Expensive

It will depend on the type of VoIP phone system you want to use. A cloud-hosted VoIP phone system costs $10-30 per user monthly. An on-premise VoIP phone system costs $500-1,000 per user. At F2F Telecommunications,our standard monthly plan starts at $35 per telephone for all the necessary hardware and support. 

Myth #4: VoIP Phones aren’t Widely Used

The use of VoIP is growing in the US due to its ability to strengthen communications and increase savings. About 31% of businesses use VoIP phone systems. Companies have reaped the rewards of switching to VoIP,such as experiencing 50-75% savings and increased productivity in Mobile workers by 67%.

Myth #5: VoIP Phones are for Tech Companies Only

Due to their efficient ability to solve problems through communications,businesses from industries beyond tech companies benefit from adopting VoIP phone systems. Financial institutions can now provide personalized solutions at lower costs. Hospitality professionals automatically receive the right calls to address. E-commerce businesses can guarantee customer satisfaction through online phone communications. Even real estate agents use this phone system to generate and nurture leads.

Myth #6: VoIP Phones Can’t Be Used with Existing Devices

You can still use existing devices by integrating them into your VoIP system. Analog Telephone Adapters can connect regular phones and fax machines to VoIP. Note that this can be an added cost. 

Myth #7: VoIP Will Make You Lose Your Phone Numbers

You can keep your existing phone number through porting. Porting means we transfer your current phone number to your VoIP phone system. The Federal Communications Commission mandates this so consumers can assign their phone numbers to any service provider.

Myth #8: VoIP Phones are Challenging to Install

A cloud-hosted VoIP phone system is easy to install when it includes all the necessary hardware. It’s a bonus if said hardware is a plug-and-play type. This means you can use it immediately after plugging it with minimal configurations. Hosted VoIP phone systems are also easy to install as they require less hardware using business phone apps over desk phones. 

If you want to know what to look for in a VoIP phone system,click our link below. 

F2F Telecommunication | VoIP Phone System

Los Juegos de DetectivesLos Juegos de Detectives

Los Juegos de detectives han capturado la imaginación de aficionados al crimen y la intriga durante décadas. Estos juegos ofrecen una oportunidad emocionante para sumergirse en el mundo de la resolución de misterios y poner a prueba tus habilidades deductivas. Como amante de las series de crímenes y los juegos de mesa, no puedo resistirme a compartir mi entusiasmo por esta fusión fascinante.

Clásicos de Detectives

Los juegos de detectives tienen una larga historia, y los clásicos nunca pasan de moda. Títulos como “Clue” (también conocido como “Cluedo”) y “Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective” han sido favoritos de los aficionados durante generaciones. En “Clue,” los jugadores deben descubrir quién cometió un asesinato, con qué arma y en qué habitación, mientras que en “Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective,” te conviertes en un detective y resuelves casos intrigantes en el Londres del siglo XIX.

Moderno y Misterioso

El mundo de los juegos de detectives ha evolucionado con el tiempo, y ahora hay una amplia variedad de opciones modernas. Uno de los títulos más notables es “Detective: A modern Crime Board Game.” Este juego te sumerge en investigaciones realistas, utilizando una base de datos en línea para buscar pistas y resolver casos complejos. La atención al detalle y la inmersión en este juego son impresionantes.

Misterio en el Mundo Digital

No podemos hablar de juegos de detectives sin mencionar los juegos digitales. En la era de los videojuegos, títulos como “L.A. Noire” y “Her Story” han llevado la experiencia detectivesca a una nueva dimensión. “L.A. Noire” te coloca en la piel de un detective en Los Ángeles de la década de 1940, mientras que “Her Story” te desafía a resolver un misterio a través de fragmentos de vídeos.

El Arte de la Deducción

Una de las cosas más emocionantes de los juegos de detectives es la oportunidad de poner a prueba tus habilidades deductivas. Ya sea analizando pistas, entrevistando a testigos o conectando los puntos, estos juegos te desafían a pensar de manera lógica y creativa. Además, la sensación de resolver un misterio es increíblemente gratificante.

Conclusión

Los juegos de detectives ofrecen una experiencia única que combina la emoción de las series de crímenes con la estrategia de los juegos de mesa. Ya sea resolviendo un asesinato en un viejo caserón o investigando crímenes modernos en el mundo Digital, estos juegos te mantendrán entretenido durante horas. Así que, ¿estás listo para asumir el papel de detective y enfrentarte a los desafíos que te esperan en el mundo de los juegos de detectives?