Social Security Announces 3.2 Percent Benefit Increase for 2024

October 13, 2023
By:

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 71 million Americans will increase 3.2 percent in 2024, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by more than $50 per month starting in January.

More than 66 million Social Security beneficiaries will see the 3.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2024. Increased payments to approximately 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 29, 2023. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits).

“Social Security and SSI benefits will increase in 2024, and this will help millions of people keep up with expenses,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $168,600 from $160,200.

Social Security begins notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December. Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, which is secure, easy, and faster than receiving a letter in the mail. People can set up text or email alerts when there is a new message–such as their COLA notice–waiting for them in my Social Security.

People will need to have a my Social Security account by November 14 to see their COLA notice online. To get started, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Information about Medicare changes for 2024 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, their new 2024 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To read more, please visit www.ssa.gov/cola.

October 13, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Who makes the best chili in DeKalb County? Find out on Friday, October 13th when Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County hosts the 19th Annual Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale.

Chili will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the town square in front of City Hall. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the DeKalb County Complex Auditorium. For $10, eat all the chili you want and vote for your favorite chili and the best decorated booth. Commemorative ceramic mugs will be available for $25. Both options include one drink. Delicious baked goods prepared by members of local churches will be for sale. Take out is also available.

“We are looking forward to another great day of good food and fellowship at the Chili Cook-off,” said Alex Woodward, president of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County. “The proceeds from the event will be used toward building another Habitat house with a DeKalb County family, so we hope everyone will come out and eat lots of chili for a great cause!”

20 teams will be competing in the Chili Cook-off this year: “The Loan Arrangers” from Liberty State Bank; “Top Gunners” from Amvets Ladies Auxiliary Post 101; “The Courthouse Gang” from DeKalb County Officials; “Funky Chicken Chili” from DeKalb Prevention Coalition; “FirstBank’s Secret Sauce Chili” from FirstBank; “Galaxy” from Galaxy Ford; Mallory Pfingstler, State Farm; “Home Care Heroes” from Adoration Home Health; Town and Lake Realty; DeKalb UT Extension; Hywater Title, LLC; “Current Keepers” from Smithville Electric; “Hot Checks Chili” from Wilson Bank & Trust; “Tennessee ‘Meats’ Texas” from WY FORGE CO.; “MTNG: The Chili Zone” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas; “Hell Hath No Fury Like FBC Chili” from First Baptist Church; “Silence of the Dems” from DeKalb County Democratic Party; “Legal Limit Spice” from Center Hill Title, LLC/Tecia Puckett Pryor, Attorney; “Family and Consumer Foodies” from DCHS FCCLA; and “Mom’s Holmes Made Chili” from Holmes Group Inc. In addition, DeKalb Title is sponsoring the “Treat Tent”.

In 2022, “The Courthouse Gang” from DeKalb County Officials took Top Chili Honors, with the “Top Gunners” from Amvets Post 101 placing second. Third place chili honors went to “First Finest Chili” from FirstBank.

The Best Decorated Booth Award went to Smithville Electric System; with “The Courthouse Gang” from DeKalb County Officials coming in second place and “Great Bowls of Fire” from the DeKalb County Fire Department placing third.

The Golden Spoon Award went to “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials, who raised the most additional money for Habitat in cash donations at their booth, with Smithville Electric coming in second and the “DCHS Biting Tigers” from DCHS FCCLA coming in third.

Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity builds and renovates houses in partnership with volunteers and families in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.

For more information on the Chili Cook-off and Bake Sale, contact Tecia Pryor at 615-597-7370.

October 12, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Grant James of the James Gang remains in the lead among WJLE’s Fearless Forecasters picking college football winners six weeks into the season.

Grant has a record of 67-23 followed by Dewain Hendrixson and Jared Davis each at 66-24, Ricky Atnip 65-25, Scott Goodwin 64-26, John Pryor 62-28, Darrell Gill of the Gill Gang and Chad Kirby each at 61-29, and Scott Brown 60-30.

For the week, Jared Davis had the best record at 11-4, followed by Dewain Hendrixson and Ricky Atnip each at 10-5, Grant James, Scott Brown, Chad Kirby, Scott Goodwin, and John Pryor each at 9-6 and Darrell Gill 8-7.

Four Fearless Forecasters hit their underdog picks last week. Grant James got on the board with 3 points as Nebraska defeated Illinois 20-7. Ricky Atnip gained 9.5 points with UCONN’s win over Rice 38-31. Scott Goodwin added 6.5 points as Oklahoma beat Texas 34-30, and Dewain Hendrixson picked up 6 points with Iowa State’s win over TCU 27-14.

Overall, Jared Davis leads in underdog points with 35 followed by Dewain Hendrixson with 18.5, Ricky Atnip 17, Scott Goodwin 12.5, Darrell Gill 11.5, Chad Kirby and John Pryor each with 6.5, and Grant James with 3 points.

Today (Thursday) the Forecasters will be picking winners in the following games:

USC at Notre Dame, Oregon at Washington, Kansas at Oklahoma State, N.C. State at Duke, Kansas State at Texas Tech, Miami at North Carolina, UCLA at Oregon State, Tulane at Memphis, Arkansas at Alabama, Florida at South Carolina, Auburn at LSU, Missouri at Kentucky, Georgia at Vanderbilt, Texas A&M at Tennessee and in the NFL the Baltimore Ravens at the Tennessee Titans.

Catch the Fearless Forecasters on WJLE today (Thursday) at 4:30 p.m. on AM 1480/FM 101.7 and LIVE streaming at www.wjle.com.

The program is sponsored by the Charles D. Atnip Realty and Auction Company, DeKalb County Ace Hardware, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, FirstBank, DeKalb County Insurance, Gill Automotive, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, Davis Auto Body, and Domino’s Pizza.

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