Latest news with #AARPHawaii
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
AARP: Kupuna who travel more may live longer
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Seniors are more eager to travel this year. As we come up on the travel season, planning for the most desired trips of your life can help you live longer. 'Studies have shown that if you have a purpose in life, if you have something that you wake up and look forward to every day, you are going to live a longer life overall,' Craig Gima, AARP Hawaii Communications Director, explained. Caring for mom, playing big role in Shinnyo Lantern Floating Ceremony He added that having a bucket list is very important and healthy. AARP's newest survey found that more lists are getting checked off as kupuna, the desire for kupuna to travel increased by five percent this year. 'There are so many people going to Japan, there's so many people traveling to the mainland to see family.' Wahiawa resident Sherry Imamura-Ryan was able to travel through the charity wish of a lifetime. The wish allowed her to see Tokyo again, where she was born, and reconnect with cousins during cherry blossom season.'I did see my cousins we had a wonderful lunch, we talked about old times, we shared photos, I now even have their email addresses so we're going to stay in touch, and when I go back to Japan in a couple of years with my entire family we'll see them again,' said Imamura-Ryan. She hopes her trip can inspire others to chase their dreams. 'When I think back now, I don't know why I was so afraid to go to Japan. Now it's opened new windows for me and I'm not afraid to travel anymore,' she said. If you want to submit a kupuna, visit this website, but charity can only help so many and traveling is expensive. It's also not the only thing that makes taking trips difficult for kupuna. Planning ahead can help out a lot. 'The number one factor that limits travel is cost, but number two behind it for older people is mobility,' Gima said. Check out more news from around Hawaii The sooner you can get started, the more you can afford to live out your dreams and see the world. 'Even if you're in your 20's, start right now and save money for it. Make sure you have a way to afford the things you want to do when you retire.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security to keep accepting claims by phone
COURTESY PHOTO Keali 'i Lopez : The director of AARP Hawaii is concerned about Social Security customer service and is sounding the alarm about benefits' long-term solvency 1 /2 COURTESY PHOTO Keali 'i Lopez : The director of AARP Hawaii is concerned about Social Security customer service and is sounding the alarm about benefits' long-term solvency GEORGE F. LEE / MARCH 4 Community backlash has led to some retraction of a plan that would have changed procedures at the Social Security Administration. Hundreds rally at the state Capitol to protest Trump administration policies. 2 /2 GEORGE F. LEE / MARCH 4 Community backlash has led to some retraction of a plan that would have changed procedures at the Social Security Administration. Hundreds rally at the state Capitol to protest Trump administration policies. COURTESY PHOTO Keali 'i Lopez : The director of AARP Hawaii is concerned about Social Security customer service and is sounding the alarm about benefits' long-term solvency GEORGE F. LEE / MARCH 4 Community backlash has led to some retraction of a plan that would have changed procedures at the Social Security Administration. Hundreds rally at the state Capitol to protest Trump administration policies. The Social Security Administration will continue accepting all types of claims by phone after Monday, reversing a previously announced plan that would have ended phone-based access for certain benefits. The move comes after concerns raised by community backlash, including AARP Hawaii, about the impact such a change would have—particularly on residents in rural and neighbor island communities. Keali 'i Lopez, state director of AARP Hawaii, said the decision is a relief for the many local residents who rely on phone services to file their Social Security claims. She emphasized that kupuna and others living in remote areas have grown accustomed to the convenience of phone access, which often spares them long drives to in-person SSA offices. The agency had initially announced in February that it would eliminate certain phone services while slashing 7, 000 jobs and consolidating its 10 regional offices down to four. AARP expressed concern that these cuts would make it harder for Hawaii residents to access essential services, especially those with limited mobility or transportation options. While AARP welcomed the decision to maintain phone access, Lopez said the organization is still pushing for broader improvements. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Long wait times—sometimes up to 2-1 /2 hours—and inconsistent service continue to be major issues. She pointed to recent outages on the SSA's website, including a full-day crash on March 31, as signs that the system needs urgent investment. Lopez said AARP has urged Congress to hold the SSA accountable while also ensuring the agency has adequate resources to hire and train staff. Staffing shortages and high demand have created delays that can significantly affect residents seeking retirement, disability, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income benefits. As of now it's unclear whether the SSA will reverse the staffing cuts it announced earlier this year. Lopez said AARP's focus remains on ensuring the agency has enough trained employees to meet public demand and improve serv ice quality. Even with phone services remaining in place, she said AARP will continue advocating for shorter wait times and better customer serv ice across the board. In addition to service delivery concerns, AARP is sounding the alarm on Social Security's long-term solvency. Lopez said the organization is pressing Congress to take action before automatic benefit reductions are triggered. Current projections estimate that without congressional intervention, monthly benefits could be reduced by about 20 % as soon as 2034 or 2035. Lopez said the longer lawmakers wait, the more disruptive the cuts could be. She emphasized that AARP wants Congress to act well before the projected shortfall hits—not the year prior. While there are no Hawaii-specific impacts tied to the solvency issue yet, Lopez noted that national policy changes, such as eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, could affect how soon reserves are depleted. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, Social Security is a vital lifeline for Hawaii residents and a major contributor to the state's economy. In 2022 more than 282, 000 people in the islands—over 1 in 5 residents—received benefits, injecting more than $4.8 billion annually into the local economy. These payments support not just individuals, but also fuel business activity and job creation. The majority of beneficiaries in Hawaii—about 225, 000 people, or nearly 80 %—are retired workers. Another 7.1 % receive disability benefits, while spousal, survivor and child beneficiaries make up the remaining 13 %. AARP's data shows that the program is especially important for preventing poverty among seniors. Between 2018 and 2020, Social Security lifted an estimated 52, 000 Hawaii residents age 65 and older out of poverty. Without it more than a quarter of local seniors would fall below the poverty line ; with benefits included, that figure drops to just 8.5 %. For many residents Social Security is more than a safety net—it's their primary income. About 30 % of Hawaii residents age 65 and older rely on it for at least half of their income, while 13 % depend on it for more than 90 %. That reliance is even higher among Black residents in the same age group, with 23 % depending on Social Security for the vast majority of their income, compared with 14 % of white residents. In 2022 the average monthly benefit in Hawaii was $1, 539 for retired workers and $1, 315 for those receiving disability payments—both slightly higher than the national average, according to AARP. AARP Hawaii said it will continue to advocate for policies that ensure the long-term stability of Social Security and improvements in the quality of service for residents who rely on the program.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family caregivers push for government support
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Officials have tried to pass measures that would give family caregivers a tax credit, both at the state and federal level. But it's been a battle to turn these proposals into law. It's the one day of the year where the Waikiki Aquarium is free for the 'Mauka to Makai Environmental Expo Steve Tame was a caregiver for his father who had Alzheimer's before he passed away. Tam and his family did everything they could to care for him, but it came with challenges. Challenges he says were staggering and overwhelming. 'Caregiving was really like treading water. 24/7 you know, struggling to keep my head above water, and then, you know, still have to balance full time jobs and also raising my children and caregiving,' said Tam. Tam eventually had to quit his full time job, just as college tuition payments were due, spending a lot of money from his savings.'I think, you know, a caregiver tax credit would really be a lifeline for families, you know, like mine. Many Hawaii families provide unpaid, unpaid care, you know, at really a great personal and financial cost,' Tam said. Craig Gima of AARP Hawaii says on average, caregivers spend more than $7,000 on supplies a year to help care for a loved one. 'They do an important job. without family caregivers caring for people at home, for loved ones at home, the whole long term care system would collapse. There's no way we'd be able to take care of kupuna unless family members and friends and loved ones are able to chip in,' explains Gima. Gima says caregiving is such an important function that deserves some kind of government support. 'Our polling shows that voters believe that Congress and the state legislature should pass a tax credit for caregivers. That the government is not doing enough for caregivers. Strongly, 80%, 90% of people believe that this, bills like this should pass.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'We need to act now. It's crazy that families need to choose between caring for a loved one or their financial future and security,' explains Tam. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kokua Line: Do anti-fraud webinars start today?
Question : I received an unusual email, supposedly from the IRS. I think it is a scam, but since usually I have filed my taxes by now, I'm not sure if it's something they send to procrastinators and that's why I've never seen it before. It told me to scan a QR code in the email because they need to update my tax records. I didn't. Is anybody else getting this ? Answer : This email is a scam, versions of which are listed year after year on the IRS list of Dirty Dozen tax schemes. The inclusion of a QR code, either as an attachment or embedded in the email, is a relatively new iteration, as the same sort of phishing attempt might also include fraudulent links or even telephone numbers directing an unsuspecting recipient to criminals intent on stealing their identity and their money. Don't click on links, scan QR codes or call phone numbers mentioned in these unsolicited messages. 'The IRS continues to see a barrage of email and text scams targeting taxpayers and others. Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake communications from entities posing as legitimate organizations in the tax and financial community, including the IRS, state tax agencies and tax software companies, ' according to the IRS website, , where you can read more about the Dirty Dozen, which spike during tax season. As for filing income tax returns, you have time : The federal filing deadline is April 15, while Hawaii income tax returns are due April 21. On a related note, starting today, AARP Hawaii is hosting a series of free webinars to teach people how to protect themselves, family members and friends from scammers, which cost Hawaii consumers $61.6 million in 2024, according to a news release from the nonprofit organization, which focuses on improving life for older Americans. 'The 2024 fraud losses are up 32 percent in Hawaii compared to the $46.6 million lost the year prior, ' the news release said, citing Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel Network reports. In Hawaii, top subcategories of reported fraud included business imposter scams, online shopping and government imposter scams ; also, Hawaii ranked second worst in the country in per capita reports of investment-related scams, which mainly involved contact via social media and payment with cryptocurrency, the news release said. You don't need to be a member of AARP to attend the fraud prevention webinars, but will need to create an account to register for these online events. To sign up, go to or call 877-926-8300. Here's the schedule : Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.—Today at 1 p.m.: 'FBI Spotlight on Scams, ' featuring an FBI agent answering questions about fraud targeting kupuna.—April 15 at 10 a.m.: 'Anatomy of a Scam, ' providing an in-depth look at how scammers take advantage of consumers.—April 23 at 10 a.m.: 'Stay Safe in a Digital World, ' offering tips about digital scams, including those involving artificial intelligence.—April 30 at 10 a.m.: 'Spot and Report Medicare Fraud ' teaches kupuna how to recognize and report this costly crime. Fraud reported to the FTC represents only a fraction of what actually occurs, the news release said. 'Too many people don't report fraud because of embarrassment. But scammers are clever and experienced in taking people's money. They are criminals. Consumers who lose money to fraud should blame the scammers, not themselves, ' said Keali 'i Lopez, AARP Hawaii state director. Q : What's the breakdown of gold star versus non-gold star licenses ? A : 'There are 664, 422 active driver's licenses in the City and County of Honolulu as of April 1, 2025. Of that total, 640, 713 have the star marking or seal in the upper-right hand corner, making them Real ID compliant, ' said Harold Nedd, a spokesperson for Honolulu's Department of Customer Services. REAL ID is a hot topic again because starting on May 7, 'U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities, ' the U.S. Transportation Security Administration explains on its website, which lists various acceptable forms of identification, which include a gold-star Hawaii driver's license or state ID. For instructions on obtaining a Hawaii credential, go to.------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email.------------
