Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, April 10, 2021

Mountain View News Saturday, April 10, 2021 10 

THE MOST AND LEAST POPULAR AGES TO 
CLAIM SOCIAL SECURITY 

Dear Savvy Senior: 

How much does your claiming age affect your Social 

Security benefits, and what are the most popular 


ages people start taking their retirement benefits?

Nearing Retirement 

Dear Nearing: 

You can sign up for Social Security at any time after age 62. However, your monthly pay


ments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70. This adds up 

to around 6 to 8 percent higher payments every year you delay. 

To get a breakdown on exactly how much your claiming age affects your benefits, visit 
Social Security’s Retirement Age Calculator at SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.
html. This tool provides your official full retirement age (FRA) – which is between 
66 and 67 depending on your birth year – and shows how much your benefits will be reduced 
by taking early payments or increased by delaying them. 

In the meantime, here’s the rundown of when most people start receiving retirement bene


fits (according to 2019 SSA statistics), and how signing up at each age impacts your payout. 

Age 62: This is the earliest you can sign up for Social Security and the most popular age. 
Around 34 percent of women and 31 percent of men signed up for Social Security at 62. 
But if you sign up at this age, you’ll get 25 percent smaller Social Security payments if your 
FRA is 66, and 30 percent lower payments if your FRA is 67. 

Age 63: About 7 percent of all workers start drawing their benefits at this age. Monthly 
payments are reduced if you sign up at age 63, but by less than if you claim at 62. A worker 
with a FRA of 66 will get a 20 percent pay cut by signing up at 63. And workers with a FRA 
of 67 will get 25 percent less. 

Age 64: Around 8 percent of women and about 7 percent of men claim benefits at 64. 

Social Security payments are reduced by 13.3 percent for those with a FRA of 66, and 20 

percent for people whose FRA is 67. 

Age 65: This use to be FRA for people born before 1938, but it’s still enrollment age for 
Medicare. Around 12 percent of workers begin their retirement benefits at 65. By starting 
at this age, you’ll see you monthly payments reduced by 6.7 percent if your FRA is 66, and 
by 13.3 percent if it’s 67. 

Age 66: This is FRA for people born between 1943 and 1954. If you fit into this age group, 
you’re eligible to claim unreduced Social Security benefits. Nearly 29 percent of men and 
22 percent of women sign up for benefits at 66. But if your FRA is 67, you’ll get a 6.7 percent 
pay cut if you sign up here. 

Age 67: People born in 1960 or later will be able to claim unreduced Social Security payments 
starting at age 67. Baby boomers born before 1955 will get an 8 percent increase if 
they wait to claim their benefits at 67. Less than 4 percent of men and 3 percent of women 
start their benefits at this age. 

Age 68: Only about 2 percent of workers start claiming their retirement benefits at 68. 

Those with a FRA of 66 will get 16 percent more if they claim Social Security payments at 

age 68, while those with a FRA of 67 will get 8 percent increase. 

Age 69: Less than 2 percent of workers start claiming their retirement benefits at this age. 

Those with a FRA of 66 will get a 24 percent boost in their benefit by waiting to 69. While 

those with a FRA of 67 will increase their benefits by 16 percent. 

Age 70 and older: Waiting to age 70 offers the biggest possible payout. Nearly 9 percent of 
women and 6 percent of men held out until this age. Those with a FRA of 66 can increase 
their benefits by 32 percent, while those with a FRA of 67 will get a 24 percent increase. 
After age 70, there’s no additional increase for further delaying your payments. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit Sav


vySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy 

Senior” book. 

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 


YOUR LEGAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 
YOUR CHILD CHANGES ON THEIR 
EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY 

I was recently asked a question by a client with a graduating senior 

at home. It’s a great question and one which parents often don’t 

think about. I was asked, “what estate planning documents should 

my son, who just turned 18 and is planning to attend college in the 

fall, have in place?”

Answer: At age 18, your son is now an adult in the eyes of the law. 
This means you no longer have the authority to make decisions regarding his medical care, 
nor will you have access to his finances if something happens. 
Since you are no longer in charge, your son’s greatest liability from a planning perspective is 
what would happen if he were incapacitated by illness or injury and become unable to make 
decisions on his own behalf. To prepare for this scenario, you should have your son sign 
three key documents: medical powers of attorney, a living will, and durable financial power 
of attorney.
Medical powers of attorney allow your son to grant you (or someone else) the legal authority 
to make healthcare decisions on his behalf in the event he is incapacitated and unable to 
make decisions for himself. Used in conjunction with medical powers of attorney, a living will 
provides specific guidance about how your son would want his medical decisions made in the 
event he is incapacitated. 
Finally, if your son is incapacitated, you may also need the ability to access and manage his 
finances, and this is done with durable financial powers of attorney, which gives you the authority 
to manage his financial and legal matters, such as paying tuition and maintaining his 
bank accounts. 
The things we take for granted as parents, during our kids’ childhoods, change and can become 
big liabilities as they enter adulthood. Until they settle down and have a family of their 
own, you (and they) should seriously consider setting up these basic estate planning documents, 
naming you as their agent. 
It’s one more way families can provide peace and security for each other.
Congratulations to all soon to be graduating seniors! 


Dedicated to empowering your family, building your wealth and 
defining your legacy,

A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a mission 

to help parents protect what they love most. His office is 


located at 55 Auburn Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. 
Schedule an appointment to sit down and talk about

ensuring a legacy of love and financial security for your

family by calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for more information. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …APRIL Birthdays* 


Howard Rubin, Anita Hardy, Hattie Harris, Wendy Senou, Mary Harley, Bette 
White, Dorothy White, Doris Behrens, Freda Bernard, Beth Copti, Terri Cummings, 
Marilyn Diaz, Virginia Elliott, Elma Flores, Betty Jo Gregg, Barbara Lampman, Betty 
Mackie, Elizabeth Rassmusen, Maria Reyes, Anne Schryver, Chrisine Bachwansky, 
Colleen McKernan, Sandy Swanson, Hank Landsberg, Ken Anhalt, Shannon 
Vandevelde, Wendy Senour * To add your name to this distinguished list, please 
call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA MADRE 

TEA AND TALK – SENIOR BOOK CLUB – SECOND 
staff is launching a new book club series the Tea and Talk that will meet virtually every other week and discuss 
the fun, suspense, intrigue, love and so much more that each selection will have in store! 
If you are interested in participating in what I hope will become a fan favorite please call Lawren Heinz at 
626-355-5278 or send an email to lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com. Once I have received a minimum of 5 participants 
I can announce the start date and tentative length of time for each selection. 
The first book of this fun new program will be “Code Name Helene” by Ariel Lawhon. Based on the thrilling 
REAL-LIFE STORY of socialite spy Nancy Wake, comes the newest feat of historical fiction from the New 
York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia, featuring the astonishing woman who killed a Nazi with 
her bare hands and went on to become one of the most decorated women in WWII. 

TAX ASSISTANCE 
If you are in need of assistance with your 2020 taxes please know that help is a phone call away. Don Brunner, 
Tax Saver, is not accepting in person consultations at the moment but available for a phone or email consult. 
Please call him at 626-447-8829 or email TAXSAVERD@gmail.comCHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Chair yoga with Paul is coming back! Class will 
begin on Monday, August 10th and will be held in the Covered Pavilion in Memorial Park in front of the Senior 
Center. Please join us for some gentle stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxa-tion. Class size is limited 
so please call 264-8923 to reserve your spot. 

HAWAIIAN AND POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Class will also meet in the Covered 
Pavilion in Memorial Park in front of the Senior Center. Join the class with instructor Barbara as she leads 
you through the art of Hula. Please call 264-8923 with any questions. 
Classes will maintain a distance of 6 ft between participants. ALL participants must be wearing masks for the 
duration of the class. All equipment used will be sanitized after each use before it is stored. Each participant is 
responsible for providing their own water, masks and needed equipment or sup-plies for each class. Please call the 
Community Services Department at 355-5278 with any questions or concerns. 

IDEAS

 Do you have any ideas for programming? Is there a class or club you would like to see in our Senior Community? 
Please call or email Lawren Heinz with ideas or questions. 626-355-5278 x 704 lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com

 City staff are monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement 
and interfacing less with the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses are 
being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner. If at any time additional information is needed, please 
contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 355-7135, Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are 
taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate per-son. For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note 
our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the Community Services Department, (626) 355-5278 x702. 

SIERRA MADRE SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS PLAN 
The City of Sierra Madre is following these procedures to provide current communication in light of COVID-19 
and keep the Senior Community and families informed of essential information and resources. City staff are 
monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement and practicing 
social distancing in the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses are 
being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner.
If at any moment additional information is needed, please contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 3557135, 
Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate person.

For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the 
Community Services Department, (626) 355-5278 x702.

Community Services Department will continue email communication with Senior residents and aging community 
members.

If you know of family members or neighbors who may benefit from accessing information electronically, and 
to receive the department’s Seniors Newsletter via email but may not otherwise have been included on an email 
group list, please send your request with email address to the following team members: Lawren Heinz Lheinz@ 
cityofsierramadre.com and Clarissa Lowe Clowe@cityofsierramadre.com.

City Social Media will continue via Facebook as well as Instagram, and information sharing will include updates 
as details becomes available. 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE MISSING 

Did you ever have a week when 

returned home. I was smiling all the way home 
it felt like something was miss-

because I thought I had found that missing thing 
ing, but you didn't quite know 

for the week. I try to get my haircut every other 
what it was? 

week, and sometimes I mess up, and I get out of 
I had that kind of a week this past week. It felt like 

routine. But now, the haircut was done, and I was 
something was missing, and I could not figure 

heading home. 
out what it was. 

As I opened the door to enter the house, I began 
The past week was typical in many regards. Ev-

to feel that itching feeling again that I was misserything 
seemed to be going normal as normal 

ing something. The haircut wasn't really what I 
could be. But I had this nagging thought in the 

was missing, and so I was back to square one. 
back of my head that I was missing something. I 

As I pondered this, my wife comes up to me and 
really couldn’t get a handle on it. 

says, "Could you run to the grocery store and get 
At first, I thought maybe I had missed my Apple 

a few things that I need for tonight?" 
Fritter. My New Year's resolution for this year was 

Of course, I was willing to go and do some shop-
only to eat one Apple Fritter at a time. And as far 

ping. I'm not a shopaholic, but when given a list, 
as I can recollect, I have not missed one so far 

I can do the shopping. 
this year. 

I had just put the last item into the shopping cart 
So, it wasn't an Apple Fritter that I was missing. 

and was headed toward the checkout counter, 
It was something, and it was beginning to get on 

and then, there it was! 
my nerves. 

I never thought that I would solve my itching 
I got out my weekly planner to see if there was 

problem in the grocery store. But there it was. I 
a meeting that I had missed or forgotten about. 

was walking by the candy aisle, and there it was; 
I went very carefully, and everything I was sup-

several shelves full of CHOCOLATE. 
posed to do this past week I did. And yet, some-

There were all sorts of chocolate candy on those 
thing was missing. 

shelves. I just froze and stared at all of that 
I went back in my weekly planner for five or six 

CHOCOLATE and let the ambience fill my mind. 
weeks, and nothing was missing. 

My wife cannot eat chocolate for some reason, 
Maybe, I thought, I had a meeting that I had for-

but I love chocolate. We've not had chocolate in 
gotten to schedule. So, I asked the Gracious Mis-

the house since before the pandemic, which may 
tress of the Parsonage if she knew of anything I 

explain my nervous feelings. Nothing is more 
missed. 

sooth-ing and comforting to me than a cup of Joe 
Well, that sure was a mistake. She had a whole 

in one hand and the delicious chocolate candy 
list of things that, according to her schedule, I 

bar in the other hand. 
had forgotten to do,. It was almost a book full of 

My only problem at this point was what not to 
“missing activities” that she thought I needed to 

buy. The chocolate that I love the most is the one 
catch up on. 

I'm eating at the time. 
I should've known better, but after completing all 

Not being judgmental, I selected one piece of 
her "tasks," I still had this little itch that there was 

chocolate from every shelf in that aisle. I filled 
something I was missing. 

my basket with chocolate candy. When I got to 
Again, I made the mistake of talking aloud and 

the cashier's counter, there seemed to be a huge 
mentioning that I felt I was missing something. 

weight lifted off me, and there seemed to come 
That's all the Gracious Mistress of the Parson-

into my life a peace that I had not experienced 
age needs to hear, and once again, she was on her 

for some time. 
game and gave me a whole list of things that she 

Driving home, I began to think about how I will 
thought I was missing. 

get all of this chocolate past my wife. I quickly 
You would think at my age I would know when 

put that aside focused on the delicious piece of 
to keep my mouth shut. But I was being aggra


chocolate I was eating at the time. 
vated that I was missing something, and I don't 

I thought of a wonderful verse of Scripture. 
like that. I like to do my job and get everything 

“Those things, which ye have both learned, and 
done as quickly as possible. 

re-ceived, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the 
I happened to go to the bathroom, glanced in the 

God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:9). 
mirror and saw that I had not had a haircut for 

God’s peace is the thing that most people are 
quite a while. I thought that this was probably the 

missing from their life today. 
thing I was missing. That sure would solve my 
anxiety. 

Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God 

So, I headed off to the barber, got a haircut, and 

Fellowship, 1471 Pine Road, Ocala, FL 34472. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com