Issue Date: May 20, 2007
Will you get the Social Security owed to you?
Glitches sometimes can creep into your records.
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You won't if the government has the wrong data. So be sure to check your Social Security statement, which arrives three months before your birthday, says Donna Clements, of Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Look at:
Earnings. The statement lists earnings on which Social Security taxes were based, currently a maximum of $97,500. Benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years. If an employer gives the government the incorrect salary information or if the government errs in recording it, then you could miss out on what you are owed. So check the earnings listed against your latest W-2.
Personal data. Didn't receive a statement by your birthday? The Social Security Administration may not have your current address, which it gets from the IRS. Contact the IRS for Form 8822 to submit your change of address. Did you change your name? Your benefits also may be in jeopardy (this often happens to women after a marriage or divorce). If you change your name, you need to get a new Social Security card (but not a new number). Download Form SS-5, which is an application for a Social Security card, from www.socialsecurity.gov.
Benefits calculation. The statement estimates benefits at age 62, your full retirement age (based on your birth date) and age 70. If you suspect an error, call the SSA at 800-772-1213.
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Families that play together ...
Combat those lazy days of summer with an active family vacation that combines fun with physical challenge:
Surfing. Blow your preteen's mind -- and not your budget. Suggest you "hang 10" at a family surf camp. Located primarily on the East and West coasts, the Caribbean and Costa Rica, these programs are suitable for kids ages 11 and up. At the Wrightsville Beach Family Surf Camp in North Carolina (wbsurfcamp.com), for example, five days are $295 per person (accommodations and travel not included).
Rock Climbing. Beginning and advanced climbers, generally 12 and up, can find a foothold while scaling some very tall rocks in dozens of locations across the nation. At ACE Adventure Center in West Virginia (aceraft.com), an entire day of rock climbing costs as little as $85 for children and $99 for adults, and rustic cabin accommodations are available for as little as $12 per child and $15 per adult a night. The next day, try white-water rafting or caving.
Mountain Biking. Imagine pedaling your way to the Grand Canyon, then catching the desert views overa picnic lunch. Itineraries are available for all skill levels. A seven-day, six-night excursion from Backroads (backroads.com) lets you bike and walk through Bryce and Zion national parks and the Grand Canyon. It costs $1,798 per person, which includes meals and camping accommodations.
Ann Pleshette Murphy is ABC's Good Morning America parenting expert.
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Infertility tied to eating trans fats
Snack attack? Instead of fries, which may contain trans fats, reach for fruit.
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It's well known that trans fats -- commonly found in commercially fried and baked food -- can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. But there's another unexpected danger to younger women, finds a new Harvard study.
Eating too many trans fats could dramatically increase a woman's odds of being infertile. In fact, researchers determined that getting only 2% more calories from trans fats than from monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, more than doubled the risk of infertility. And getting 2% more calories from trans fats than from carbohydrates increased a woman's risk by 73%.
The theory is that trans fats adversely affect ovulatory function.
Everyone can easily avoid trans fats by checking food labels and substituting other types of fats. The fats in non-hydrogenated vegetable oils, such as soybean and canola oils, for example, were not associated with infertility in the study.
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Cordless keyboard
Sony's PlayStation 3 offers all sorts of networking features, including online text messaging and profile creation. Typing using the PS3's joystick, however, is a bit of a chore. Enter the Logitech Cordless MediaBoard for the PS3 ($79.99).
This wireless keyboard includes a small USB adapter that connects to the PS3 and has a range of 30 feet. The MediaBoard runs on AA batteries, which are included, and it features a touchpad.
Although the last thing you may want to do on the PS3 is type, at least the MediaBoard makes it easy to whip off a quick note in between battles.
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