Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
    • Submit a Press Release
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Two Guys on Politics Podcast: A Centrist View on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • The Arab street Podcast
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia Books & Films
  • Wreaths Across America Radio logo
    Wreaths Across America Radio Announces New Strategic Partnerships with Veteran Radio Programs Entertainment
  • Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly
    Taxpayers have an extra month to pay First Installment of Tax Bills Cook County
  • State hearings and transparency needed on Nicor gas cost hikes Blogger
  • William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Newt Gingrich helped fuel America’s political polarization Bill Lipinski
  • Do more for senior citizens like we do for illegal aliens Baby Boomers
  • Typewriter. Photo by Andrew Seaman courtesy of unsplash
    District 230 students receive journalism awards Cook County
  • Cook County Sherif Tom Dart
    Sheriff and District 230 honor students for public service hours Education
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Chicagoan who invested in research to save children releases new book Books & Films
  • Dr. Helen Edwards Fermilab particle physicist
    Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards Features
  • Telephone
     Sheriff Dart Warns Public of Phone Scam  Baby Boomers
  • Orland Township Democratic Organization Fundraiser Feb. 23, 2023 at Papa Joe's Restaurant in Orland Park
    Orland Township Democratic Organization to honor Former Secretary of State Jesse White on Feb. 23 Cook County
  • Zwar Restaurant chicken and beef-lamb Shawarma Plate
    How to have a great Middle Eastern meal in Orland Park area Culture
  • Orland First Responders candidates Matthew G. Rafferty and William Bonnar Jr.
    First Responders announce candidacies for Orland Fire District Board seats Cook County
  • D230 students win prestigious art awards Education
Seniors in Nursing homes. Photo by Georg Arthur Pflueger on Unsplash

Seniors deserve far more benefits than they get from our government

Posted on November 25, 2021December 1, 2021 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Seniors deserve far more benefits than they get from our government
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Seniors deserve far more benefits than they get from our government

Not enough is being done to help Senior Citizens who are earning under $100,000 in total household income including Social Security retirement income. Politicians, government, activists like the worthless AARP, and the news media all pander to Seniors to exploit them for their own financial benefit, but none are really doing anything to help them. This plan, the Senior Tax Waiver idea would change that and give Seniors the benefits they earned

By Ray Hanania

There needs to be a revolution to help senior citizens in America. Although everyone from government to the news media talk about how important senior citizens are, very few offer any real solutions to the challenges they face.

The elected officials, government agencies, news media and even the AARP all exploit the country’s baby boomers for personal gain.

Politicians love to pander to Seniors because as a group, Seniors vote at the highest percentage of any other demographic. Elected officials need Senior votes and they will say anything to get Senior voter support. But, the politicians and government don’t deliver.

The so-called lobby for Seniors, the AARP, or American Association for Retired Persons, profits more from their efforts than Seniors benefit from AARP membership. AARP is basically a for-profit lobby that collects Senior information and sells it to advertisers for great profit. As a former AARP member, the most I received was to be inundated with junk mail pitches from companies trying to sell me Medicare scams, subscriptions, costly “help” services, and worthless garbage.

But despite all the empty words, exploitation, pandering and limited assistance we get, the truth is Seniors are at the end of the line when it comes to the government’s and the public’s attention.

Seniors in Nursing homes. Photo by Georg Arthur Pflueger on Unsplash
Seniors in Nursing homes. Photo by Georg Arthur Pflueger on Unsplash

 

Here is what government is doing for us.

President Biden and Congress are bragging that they are raising the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) on Social Security by 5.9 percent. That’s great, but look back at the history how it hasn’t been raised and you realize they have been cheating us for decades.

Social Security COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments) by year since 1975.
Social Security COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments) by year since 1975. A frightening dose of reality from Social Security and our government

Worse, is that while they are increasing the COLA by 5.9 percent, they are ALSO increasing the monthly premiums paid for Medicare Part B by 15 percent.

In the end, one hand washes the other and you get no real benefits and Seniors earning $100,000 or less will be struggling to pay their bills. Most Seniors earn far less than $100,000 — in all honesty, $100,000 in annual income is the “New” $45,000 in annual income. In other words, $100,000 today is worth far less than it did 40 years ago and it will continue to lose value especially for Seniors as they age.

So, I have come up with a plan to help seniors that won’t cost as much as many people think. It’s called the Senior Tax Waiver for Seniors collecting Social Security whose total income is under $100,000 for one Senior in a household; or, under $150,000 for two Seniors in a household.

It’s simple. Waive ALL TAXES for Seniors in those two income groups.

The goal is to protect Social Security income and allow the Senior to still do some work to a total combined taxable income of $100,000. They would benefit from the plan’s other tax, healthcare and prescription waiver benefits.

There are Four Categories of qualification based on whether you are one or two Seniors collecting Social Security, and earning either  $100,000 or less, or $150,000 or less in total income. ALL Taxation of all kinds would be waived.

There is a limiting category for Seniors who earn $250,000 or less which only waives Federal and State income taxes on the first $100,000 or $150,000 (depending on whether there is one or two Seniors (married) in a household.

Anyone earning more than $250,000 would not qualify for the Senior Tax Waiver.

Here are the Categories of Waiver Benefits:

Category 1:

Who qualifies: Seniors 65 and older collecting Social Security and earning under $100,000 in total combined household income, (including married couples with one spouse under 65 who is not collecting social security).

Benefit: Eliminate all taxation up to $100,000. No income taxes (Federal or state). No property taxes (or possibly a property tax reduction of 50 percent to a ceiling of $3,500 a year).

Benefit: Receive FREE healthcare and Prescription Drugs for seniors, and reduced costs for spouse under 65 with no “donut hole” and no out-of-pocket costs or annual deductible.

Benefit: Encourage through legislation utility companies to reduce charges by 50 percent for (electricity, water, telephone, gas, cable TV, WiFi.

Category 2:

Who qualifies: Married couple Seniors both over 65 and both collecting social security, earning a combined taxable income under $150,000.

Same as Category 1 except that with two qualifying married Seniors collecting Social Security, the income limit rises to $150,000 instead of $100,000.

Benefit: Eliminate ALL taxation for the first $150,000. No income taxes (Federal and state), and no property taxes (or a property tax reduction of 50 percent to a ceiling of $3,500 a year).

Benefit: receive FREE healthcare and prescription drugs for both seniors.

Benefit: Encourage through legislation, utility companies to reduce charges by 50 percent.

Category 3:

Who qualifies: Seniors 65 and older collecting Social Security and earning a combined Household taxable income of under $250,000 (including married couples with one spouse under 65).

Eliminate Federal and State income taxes on income up to $100,000 but resume the tax on income above $100,000.

Category 4:

Who qualifies: Married couples in which both are over 65, and both are collecting social security, earning a combined taxable household income of under $250,000.

Eliminate Federal and State income taxes on income up to $150,000 but resume the tax on income above $150,000.

Category 5:

Any Senior or married Seniors collecting Social Security and earning a combined taxable Household income of more than $250,000 would not qualify for the waiver.

Critics will say it is expensive. It’s not when you compare it to the unfunded mandates and social programs now being funded. The billions being waived in outstanding education loans (those that continue to be paid through government agencies and those that were consolidated and converted to private banking outlets), or the benefits that fuel the profits of the Insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and big corporations.

After all that Seniors have done for this country, the country should do something for them.

Send this to your local member of Congress and Senate and see what their reaction is.

Will they Sponsor it?

 

Examples:

A Senior 65 earning $30,000 a year in Social Security, who is married to a spouse not collecting social security, and they are both working but earning a total household taxable income that is under $100,000. They would be in Category 1 and receive all of the benefits. [Total household income, under $100,000, one senior on social security.]

If the spouse is also collecting social security, say $25,000 a year, and the two are still working earning under $150,000, they would be in Category 2 and receive all of the benefits. [Total household income, under $150,000, two seniors on social security.]

If a senior 65 and older is receiving social security, let’s say $30,000, but is still working and earning a total household taxable income of more than $100,000 — let’s say a total of $190,000 a year — then the senior’s first $100,000 would be non-taxable and all income over $100,000, or $90,000, would be taxable. That would be Category 3. No other benefits would apply, however. [Total household income, under $250,000, one senior on social security.]

If two married seniors both collecting social security and are still working, and their total income is let’s say $230,000, their first $150,000 would be tax-free and they would only pay taxes on the excess income above that which would be $80,000. They would be in Category 4. No other benefits would apply, however. [Total household income, under $250,000, two seniors on social security.]

( Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter. A political analyst and CEO of Urban Strategies Group, Hanania’s opinion columns on mainstream issues are published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers. His Middle East columns are published in the Arab News. For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com or email him at rghanania@gmail.com.)

 

SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Subscribe to Ray's columns

Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

* indicates required field.

 

Select Email Format


Two Guys on Politics podcast with Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania www.TwoGuysonPolitics.com

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia - February 8, 2023
  • Taxpayers have an extra month to pay First Installment of Tax Bills - February 6, 2023
  • State hearings and transparency needed on Nicor gas cost hikes - February 5, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Federal, Government, Health, Law, National, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes Tags:000, AARB, American Association of Rited persons, baby boomers, Congress, donut hole, free healthcare, free prescription drugs, government, legislation, no federal income taxes, no state income taxes, politicians, Senate, senior citizens, Senior Tax Waiver plan, seniors, under $100, under $250

Post navigation

Previous Post: Orland Township hosts digital Toy Drives for needy families
Next Post: Orland Township offers Bingo with Santa

Related Posts

  • Police Squad Car, courtesy of Wikipedia
    Police charge Tinley Park man with felony unlawful possession Crime
  • Aerosmith a winning bet News
  • Safety paves way News
  • Jim Oberweis, candidate for Congress, Illinois
    Oberweis offers Speaker Pelosi ice cream if she goes to Washington D.C. to help small businesses Cook County
  • CDC Image of girl sneezing. Coronavirus
    Illinois Health officials announce highest one-day COVID-19 totals – 4,015 new cases Business
  • Chicago Picasso east of the City Hall/Cook County Building. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Alderman Burke deserves fair treatment Blogger

More Related Articles

Orland Fire to receive International Accreditation Status Fire
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Emanuel unveils Chicago’s first public arts plan Chicago
44 years later News
COVID-19 vaccination chart for Illinois Pritzker Announces the Next Phase of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan, Lowers Vaccine Age to 65 coronavirus
Tollway Road construction projects. Photo courtesy of the Illinois Tollway Traffic changes slated for Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) breaking news
Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady joined the 2021 Senior American Idol winner on stage to congratulate him. (L to R: Supervisor O'Grady, Senior Services Coordinator Marie Ryan, Senior Idol Edward Swanson, and his wife, Kathy Swanson) Orland Township Announces 2021 Senior American Idol Winner! Baby Boomers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • State hearings and transparency needed on Nicor gas cost hikes
    February 5, 2023
  • William O. Lipinski former Congressman from Illinois (5th and later 3rd District). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Newt Gingrich helped fuel America’s political polarization
    February 3, 2023
  • Do more for senior citizens like we do for illegal aliens
    February 3, 2023
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez would have made a great mayor
    January 26, 2023
  • Pritzker’s assault weapons ban not enough to make law abiding citizens safe
    January 16, 2023
  • Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot must go
    January 15, 2023

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Chicago Mayor Lori Lightf... Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot must go Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has faile... posted on January 15, 2023
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website Vallas urges probe in Lig... Vallas urges probe in Lightfoot's CPD scandal and accuses of Congressman Ga... posted on January 16, 2023
  • Alexi Giannoulias, former Illinois state treasurer and candidate for Illinois Secretary of State Secretary of State Alexi... Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias releases comprehensive Transition Team... posted on January 17, 2023
  • Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly Taxpayers have an extra m... Taxpayers have an extra month to pay First Installment of Tax Bills In Cook... posted on February 6, 2023
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar Cook County Announces Cal... Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program A... posted on January 23, 2023
  • NEWS
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia
    February 8, 2023
  • Wreaths Across America Radio logo
    Wreaths Across America Radio Announces New Strategic Partnerships with Veteran Radio Programs
    February 6, 2023
  • Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly
    Taxpayers have an extra month to pay First Installment of Tax Bills
    February 6, 2023
  • Typewriter. Photo by Andrew Seaman courtesy of unsplash
    District 230 students receive journalism awards
    February 3, 2023
  • Cook County Sherif Tom Dart
    Sheriff and District 230 honor students for public service hours
    February 3, 2023
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Chicagoan who invested in research to save children releases new book
    February 3, 2023
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Wreaths Across America Radio logo
    Wreaths Across America Radio Announces New Strategic Partnerships with Veteran Radio Programs
    February 6, 2023
  • Dr. Helen Edwards Fermilab particle physicist
    Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards
    February 3, 2023
  • Telephone
     Sheriff Dart Warns Public of Phone Scam 
    February 3, 2023

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Chicago Wolves 2022-2023 season
    Chicago Wolves top Stars for second win in a row
    October 25, 2022
  • Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop! The team that does a lot of the work to help the Stagg High school band perform works behind the scenes like a NASCAR pit stop. The students are profiled in this feature
    Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop!
    August 31, 2022
  • Soccer. Photo by Md Mahdi on Unsplash
    International soccer returns to SeatGeek Stadium
    August 7, 2022
  • Stefan Noesen, Chicago Wolves
    Chicago Wolves Noesen wins President’s Award
    July 22, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia
    February 8, 2023
  • Cook County Sherif Tom Dart
    Sheriff and District 230 honor students for public service hours
    February 3, 2023
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Chicagoan who invested in research to save children releases new book
    February 3, 2023
  • Dr. Helen Edwards Fermilab particle physicist
    Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards
    February 3, 2023
  • Zwar Restaurant chicken and beef-lamb Shawarma Plate
    How to have a great Middle Eastern meal in Orland Park area
    January 31, 2023
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications
    January 23, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job
    January 19, 2023
  • United Airlines Flight at O'Hare Airport
    United offers endless airline travel problems for travelers
    December 25, 2022
  • Sam Bankman-Fried in an interview during the Bitcoin 2021 conference. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Demands continue for Lightfoot and Garcia to detail ties to FTX scandal
    December 15, 2022

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme