In addition to getting a passport, it may also be a good idea to get TSA Precheck. I got it about a year ago just because I was traveling a lot and airport security is a hassle. I am glad I did it. It really helps.
Airport security may become tighter depending on the political situation If you can get TSA precheck it could be especially helpful as we traverse this craziness.
@deetoo @jeanne-mayell - it is back. I wanted to go in again and see if there were any other things I could/should download and online services worked for me.
We just finished at the Martin O'Malley town hall. He's great. He referred us to this CNN article and asked us to share it. Wanted to share it with you.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/politics/social-security-administration-staff-cuts/index.html
@raincloud I was on the site twice yesterday after Jeanne suggest we download are file. I had no trouble getting to my page and downloading my information. I just sign up to get my SS. I was going to wait until I was 70, but with the way thing are I was afraid waiting would make it harder to apply. It took the normal 30 days for review, and I got my first check last week.
I went on the Social Security website this morning and was able to print out everything. Filed my taxes online on the 3rd and just checked and learned that the refund is expected to be in my bank on the 10th. I’ll be tracking that. Taking your advice, I checked my passport and discovered it’s due to expire next month. I’m working through the online process this weekend. Thanks to everyone for the heads-up!
@ana Of course. I took mine 6 months before retirement age. It wasn't much $$ difference for me, but if it's a couple of years it would be a bigger $$ difference. One thing O'Malley said, is that claims, new disability and regular Social Security applications processing will be the first things to slow down if the system is gutted of employees.
@ana Of course. I took mine 6 months before retirement age. It wasn't much $$ difference for me, but if it's a couple of years it would be a bigger $$ difference. One thing O'Malley said, is that claims, new disability and regular Social Security applications processing will be the first things to slow down if the system is gutted of employees.
Yeah, the application slowdowns concern me-- but what concerns me more is that they may change the rules and cut the benefits way back for those who have not already applied.
@herondreams These are great tips and I will share them with my family. Thank you very much.
While I know many of us are worried about Social Security right now, another issue has been coming up for me. Given that we have an anti-vax person heading the Department of Health and Human Services, we can not expect the usual warnings about infectious diseases. Will we have vaccines to protect us in future pandemics? I keep getting an intuitive nudge to buy more KN95 masks to keep on hand for the future and think we all should. We know how to distance ourselves. We know masks work. So we ought to put masks into our preparedness plan.
So far, we can look to the American Medical Association for current updates on measles, Covid and bird flu. We should also remember WHO, the World Health Organization, can help us keep apprised of infectious diseases and pandemics.
We are going to get through this.
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https://open.substack.com/pub/landfamilyhome/p/ai-crypto-and-doge-oh-my?r=duigr&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for you message.
2 weeks ago I began making my emergency preparedness kit and happened to include a number of masks.
On Monday, The Dept. of Health and Human services abruptly canceled 12 Billion dollars in federal grants to state health services. These grants were funding infectious disease management and addiction services including tracking the current measles crisis. In Lubbock, Texas near where the measles crisis is extreme, health officials were ordered to stop work immediately on projects using those grants. Some predict up to 90% of infectious disease teams will be lost.
So yes, masks are an excellent idea.
They also help where there are wildfires nearby and we know those sure are happening a lot lately.
I agree, we will get through this.
@lovendures My husband and I just got measles vaccinations at our local pharmacy. Dr. Vin Gupta of UW said on NBC that it would be a good idea for seniors to get the vaccine. You can either get the vaccine or go to your doctor and have a measles antibody test done to see if you still have immunity. Our primary care physician recommends doing either of these two options.
@marykoz This was a very interesting article and I will share it with family and friends.