AARP Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

W.Va. Joins 39 Other States Without Social Security Tax

Single filers who made over $50,000 per year, and joint filers who made over $100,000 per year used to have to pay taxes on social security income. However the legislature passed, and the governor signed, a bill that will eliminate the tax for all earners.

Gaylene Miller, state director for AARP says this will affect the more than 50,000 West Virginians who were paying Social Security tax.

“We heard loud and clear from our members that that’s double taxation,” Miller said. “They paid on that income when they were in the workforce. Social Security, thankfully, was never intended to fund the state government.”

The cut will take place over the course of three years, progressively cutting down how much Social Security earners pay each year. The law is backdated to cover all of 2024.

Some lawmakers raised questions around the bill asking if it was a worthy expenditure on the premise that retirees are not as beneficial to the state’s economy as working age individuals. And that this money could be used elsewhere to attract and retain working age West Virginians to the state. However, Miller said this tax cut will likely be recycled back into local economies.

“Those folks who get this meaningful tax relief will spend it in the community. So, it’s being reinvested,” Miller said. “It’s an attraction for retirees to come to West Virginia as well.”

The cut will put West Virginia in line with all of its border states of Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania that have no tax on Social Security.

Lawmakers Discuss Bill Allowing Teachers In W.Va. To Carry Firearms In Classrooms

On this episode of The Legislature Today, small and rural schools in West Virginia find it difficult to staff school resource officers and other security personnel, but a bill now making its way through the House of Delegates would allow teachers and other school staff to carry a firearm or other weapon on school grounds. Chris Schulz spoke with Del. Elliot Pritt, R-Fayette, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, for their perspective.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, in the midst of school shootings like Park View, Sandy Hook and Uvalde, school safety continues to be a pressing issue across the country.

In West Virginia, small and rural schools find it difficult to staff school resource officers and other security personnel, but a bill now making its way through the House of Delegates would allow teachers and other school staff to carry a firearm or other weapon on school grounds. Chris Schulz spoke with Del. Elliot Pritt, R-Fayette, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, for their perspective.

In the House, along with 13 bills on third reading, several resolutions were passed, and tributes were read honoring fallen West Virginia combat veterans.

In the Senate, the chamber addressed keeping West Virginia safer online. The chamber approved bills addressing ways that AI (artificial intelligence) could be used to sexually exploit children on the internet and protect the personal information of people online. Briana Heaney has more.

Also, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Monday afternoon considered an idea as old as the nation’s founding: Creating a currency backed by gold and silver. Curtis Tate has that story.

The House and Senate Education committees started the week off by considering changes to homeschooling requirements, as well as sports outside the school. Chris Schulz has more.

Finally, West Virginia’s senior citizens took center stage this Tuesday for AARP Day at the Capitol. There is a core group of statewide AARP leaders who lobby for certain legislation just about every day of every regular session – and 2024 is no different.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

House Advances Bill Penalizing Phone Spammers

Titled the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, House Bill 5251 outlines which telephone solicitations are acceptable and which are not.

Examples of illegal phone spam include random automated generation of phone numbers, the playing of a recorded or artificial voice message, and any intent to defraud, confuse or financially or otherwise injure the called party.

Acceptable phone solicitations include communication from a political campaign, a business-to-business sale and a single telephone solicitation made to a customer in response to an inquiry or request from the customer.

The bill’s sponsor, Del. David Kelly, R-Tyler, said the AARP supports the bill focused on protecting West Virginia seniors.

“We recognize that these things are happening on a daily basis,” Kelly said. “We all recognize it because everyone has gotten this kind of phone call.This can go a long way to stopping that kind of harassment.”

The bill allows for civil actions against the alleged illegal phone spammer. House Bill 5251 unanimously passed third reading in the House and now goes to the Senate.

Building Up W.Va. As A Vacation Destination State

On this episode of The Legislature Today, with West Virginia tourism growing as a four season, nationwide destination, there’s an abundance of legislation to enhance hiking and biking, with rail trails and rest stops along the way.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, with West Virginia tourism growing as a four season, nationwide destination, there’s an abundance of legislation to enhance hiking and biking, with rail trails and rest stops along the way.

Assistant News Director Caroline MacGregor has more on this outdoor recreation push with House Minority Leader Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, who sits on the House Committee of Economic Development and Tourism, and Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Outdoor Recreation.

Also, over the weekend, the House and Senate both met for regular floor sessions. The Senate passed four key bills including a tax cut proposal, a bill on employee pay raises for certain employees, a bill to shore up PEIA and a budget bill. Those have all headed to the House.

The Senate and Gov. Jim Justice now agree over the estimated $750 million Senate plan that includes an initial personal income tax cut of around 20 percent, a personal property tax credit for vehicles and a 50 percent personal property tax break on equipment and inventory aimed at small businesses.

The Senate also passed 20 bills Monday on a variety of issues ranging from alcohol consumption to high school sports. Chris Schulz has more.

And the House passed a bill that would create a military funeral honor guard in remembrance of Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams. The chamber also approved the contentious Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Finally, representing nearly a quarter million West Virginia senior citizens, AARP maintains a strong lobbying force at the state capitol. On AARP Day, at least two bills top the list to help the elderly, and often, the rest of us as well.

Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Social Security Benefits Will Increase in 2023

Citing record high inflation and higher food costs, the Social Security Administration announced Wednesday an 8.7 percent increase in benefits set to begin in 2023.

Citing record high inflation and higher food costs, the Social Security Administration announced Wednesday an 8.7 percent increase in benefits.

In West Virginia, nearly half a million social security recipients will see about $145 added to their benefits starting in January 2023.

This is the largest one-time increase since 1981.

Gaylene Miller, state director of AARP WV, said the announcement was “welcome news” for the state’s social security recipients. The average monthly social security benefit is $1,500 in the state, she said.

“Inflation has hit everyone hard, but people who are on a fixed income, particularly that rely solely on social security, are really having a hard time making ends meet and being able to pay rising utility costs, rising price of groceries and rising cost of prescription costs,” Miller said.

About one fourth of the state’s social security recipients 65 and older rely almost entirely on their benefits, according to Miller.

She also noted that social security recipients use their benefits to inject $7.9 billion into the state’s economy every year.

The announcement comes on the heels of news that Medicare Part B premiums will drop 3 percent next year.

Kilolo Kijakazi, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, said the changes “will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room.”

“This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” Kijakazi said in a news release.

Manchin Says Congress Will Act To Lower Cost Of Prescriptions

Manchin met with AARP representatives in Charleston Tuesday to receive petitions from West Virginians who want Congress to help make their medications more affordable.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin says Congress will do something this year to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors.

Manchin met with AARP representatives in Charleston Tuesday to receive petitions from West Virginians who want Congress to help make their medications more affordable.

Manchin says he and other lawmakers are working on allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of prescriptions. Additionally, Manchin says lawmakers are making progress toward capping the price of insulin at $35 a month and allowing Canadian drugs to be imported with FDA approval.

Manchin says prescription drug pricing is the one thing that Congress can get done.

“The drug pricing is something we all agree on,” he said. “But if we do nothing more this year, that’s the one thing that must be done.”

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.