50+ Lifestyles

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY | Davenport, Iowa Office

By Pam Shaw
Social Security District Manager
Davenport Social Security Office

STAY HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT WITH THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM

Are you eligible for Social Security retirement benefits or already receiving them?  Did you know that you can also receive healthy meals and other nutrition services through the National Senior Nutrition Program?  Local meal programs in communities across the country are waiting to serve you.

As we age, we have different needs, different ways we take care of our health, and different nutrients we need to get from our food. But we don’t always have enough healthy food or the desire to prepare or eat a meal.  Whether you need more food, healthier food, someone to share a meal with, or just want to learn about good eating habits, a meal program can help.

Every day, senior nutrition programs serve almost one million meals to people age 60 and older.  With home-delivered and group meal options, you can get the food you need in a way that works best for you. Senior nutrition programs can:

• Help you avoid missed meals – and save time and money with less shopping and cooking.
• Offer opportunities to connect and socialize, which can help improve your mental and physical health.
• Teach you how to create a healthy eating plan.  You can learn about healthy food recommendations based on your age, unique needs, and preferences.
• Connect you with other resources like transportation or homemaker services. This helps you stay connected and engaged in your community.

It’s no surprise that 9 out of 10 participants would recommend a senior nutrition program to a friend. Find a senior nutrition program in your area and help us spread the word by sharing it with your loved ones, neighbors, and community.  Visit eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx for more information.

The Senior Nutrition Program is administered by the Administration for Community Living, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SOCIAL SECURITY CELEBRATES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

March is Women’s History Month — a time to focus not just on the past, but also on the challenges women continue to face in the 21st century. At Social Security, we provide vital benefits and financial protection for women.

Nearly 55% of people receiving Social Security benefits are women. Today, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history.

Women have longer average life expectancies and tend to live more years in retirement than men. This means women have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income while their Social Security benefit continues for life. It’s important for women to plan early and wisely for retirement.

Our online booklet, Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10127.pdf, provides detailed information about how life events can affect a woman’s Social Security retirement benefits.  These events may include marriage, death of a spouse, divorce, self-employment, and other life or career changes.

A worker’s earnings history determines their future benefits, so we encourage all workers to verify that the information in their record is correct. You can create a personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to review your full earnings history. You can also view your Social Security Statement using your personal account to get estimates of future benefits and other important planning information.

If you find an error in your earnings record, it is important to get it corrected so you receive the benefits you earned.  Our publication, How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf, provides you with details on how to make a correction.

Learn more about how Social Security benefits women at www.ssa.gov/people/women.