Social Security Beneficiaries to Get 5.9% Increase in January but Medicare Part B Premiums to also Rise

January 1, 2022
By:

Social Security beneficiaries are slated to receive a 5.9% increase in 2022, the biggest boost in benefits in 39 years.

The cost-of-living adjustment will mean an increase of about $92 a month for most retired workers, bringing the average benefit to $1,657 per month.

The Social Security Administration will be sending out letters to beneficiaries detailing how much increase they will see but you can do a little math to find out how your payment will change.

The easiest way to calculate your benefit is by taking your current monthly payment then multiplying it by 5.9%. Add that amount to the original payment and you will see the increase that will be reflected in your check.

There is something important to keep in mind, however. Medicare Part B premiums are increasing from $140.50 to $170.10. The increase of $29.60 will be taken directly from Social Security checks so whatever increase is added to your existing benefits, you will have to deduct $29.60 to get the final amount.

This year’s benefit is a substantial boost over the 1.3% retirees saw in 2021. Security’s annual increase, or COLA, is determined each year using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or the CPI-W, based on the data through the third quarter.

When will new payments start?

According to GoBankingRates.com, if your birthday is on the 1st through the 10th of the month, your benefits will be paid on the second Wednesday of the month. For January, this means benefits will be paid on Jan. 12, 2022.

For those whose birth dates are on the 11th through the 20th of the month, benefits will be paid on the third Wednesday of each month, starting on Jan. 19, 2022. For people with birth dates on the 21st of the month through the 31st of the month, benefits will be paid on the fourth Wednesday of each month. January’s payments will be made on Jan. 26, 2022.

December 31, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The number of active COVID cases in DeKalb County is spiking again.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, DeKalb County had 88 active cases as of Thursday, December 30, up from 74 a week earlier on December 23 and much higher than 60 on Friday, December 3.
There have been 85 deaths in DeKalb County since the pandemic began in March 2020, up by 8 since December 3 and 127 have been hospitalized due to COVID within the past 21 months, up by 12 from December 23.

At last report 44.9% of the DeKalb County population had received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and 39.4% were fully vaccinated.

Over the last seven days, December 23-29 DeKalb County had a case count of 62 for a daily case rate of 43.2 per 100,000 residents. Up from 37 for a daily case rate of 25.8 per 100,000 residents the previous week

For the most recent 14 days, December 16-29 DeKalb County’s case count was 97 for a daily case rate of 33.8 per 100,000 residents. Up from 80 for a daily case rate of 27.9 per 100,000 residents the previous 14-day period.

For the 14 days prior, December 2 to December 15, the case count was 82 for a daily case rate of 28.6 per 100,000 residents. Up from 68 for a daily case rate of 23.7 per 100, 000 residents the previous 14-day period.

From March 5, 2020, to December 29, 2021, DeKalb County has had a total of 4,496 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 for a daily case rate of 33 per 100,000 residents.

Over the last 7 days the average percent positive was 17% up from 11.2%. the previous week.

December 31, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A total of 38 persons interested in running for county offices in either the May 3, 2022 DeKalb County Democratic or Republican Primary have picked up qualifying petitions from the election commission

According to the election commission office, the following persons have been issued petitions:

Republican Primary:
Danny Lynn Hale, Road Supervisor (Incumbent)
Sabrina R. Farler, County Commissioner, District 2 (Incumbent)
Susan L. Martin, Circuit Court Clerk (Incumbent)
Jim Beshearse-School Board, District 3(Incumbent)
Anita Puckett-County Mayor
Thomas E. “Tom” Chandler- County Commissioner, District 1
Sean D. Driver-Trustee (Incumbent)
Gregory S. “Greg” Mattthews, County Commissioner, District 4
Justin Douglas Adcock, County Commissioner, District 6
Joshua E. Holloway, County Commissioner, District 5
Larry L. Green- County Commissioner, District 5
James L. “Jimmy” Poss- County Clerk (Incumbent)
Matthew N. “Matt” Adcock- County Mayor
Mingy Kay Ball- General Sessions Court Judge
Brandon J. Cox- General Sessions Court Judge
Daniel A. Seber- Register of Deeds
Patrick R. Ray- Sheriff (Incumbent)
Keneth Lee Whitehead-Sheriff
James David “Jim” Pearson- County Commissioner, District 2
Tony L. “Cully” Culwell-County Commissioner, District 4
Boyd Bruce Malone-County Commissioner, District 7 (Incumbent)
Trevin Merriman-County Commissioner, District 7

Democratic Primary
Timothy Robert “Tim” Stribling, County Mayor (Incumbent)
Margie Rigsby Miller, General Sessions Court Judge
Jeffery K. “Jeff” Barnes-County Commissioner, District 6 (Incumbent)
Julie Ann Young-County Commissioner, District 1 (Incumbent)
Janice. M. Fish Stewart-County Commissioner, District 4 (Incumbent)
Wayne Shehane- Road Supervisor
Mike Foster- County Mayor
James Waylon Kyle- County Commissioner, District 1
Tecia Puckett Pryor-General Sessions Court Judge
Shelby D. Reeder- Register of Deeds
Billy Myron Rhody-County Commissioner, District 2 (Incumbent)
Jack E. Barton, III-County Commissioner, District 3
Susannah Cripps Daughtry- County Commissioner, District 3 (Incumbent)
Jenny A. Trapp- County Commissioner, District 3 (Incumbent)
Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Pafford- County Commissioner, District 7 (Incumbent)
Robert D. (Danny) Parkerson, Jr.- School Board, District 1 (Incumbent). Parkerson also obtained a petition to run as an independent candidate for School Board, District 1 but he can only return one petition to the election commission to run either as a Democratic Candidate in the May Primary or as an Independent Candidate in the August County General Election..

Offices on the May primary ballots include: County Mayor; Road Supervisor; Sheriff, General Sessions Judge; Circuit Court Clerk; County Clerk; Trustee; Register of Deeds; County Commissioner in all seven (7) districts (2 can be nominated per district); School Board members in districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7; Constable in District 4 to fill a vacancy; Circuit Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); Chancellor (13th Judicial District); Criminal Court Judge Part I and Part II (13th Judicial District); District Attorney General (13th Judicial District); and Public Defender (13th Judicial District).

Petitions must be returned by Noon February 17th.

There is an additional earlier deadline for Sheriff and Road Supervisor candidates. They must have appropriate paperwork to the Peace Officer Standards Training Commission (POST) for sheriff and the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification board 14 days before the qualifying deadline.

While the above offices will appear on May primary ballots, candidates also have the option to run as Independent candidates who will not appear on the ballot until August. However, the same qualifying deadlines apply.

Winners of the May primaries will square off against each other in the August DeKalb County General Election along with any properly qualified Independent candidates.

The local election office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is located on the first floor of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

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