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Social Security benefits will increase by 3.2% in 2024 as inflation moderates_我的网站

一 |     Mammootty and Vinayakan have released a short video thanking audiences for the strong response to Kalamkaval, which arrived in theatres on December 5. The film marks the feature debut of director Jithin K Jose and has quickly become a talking point among viewers for its tense atmosphere and layered performances.In the video, Mammootty conveys heartfelt appreciation for the support the film has received since its release. He notes that the gratitude extends not only to the audiences but also to every artist and technician responsible for shaping the film. He highlights that both newcomers and familiar names played a vital role in bringing Kalamkaval to life, both in front of the camera and behind it.Vinayakan appears briefly in the video and admits that he is almost at a loss for words. Even so, he shares that the positive reception has made him genuinely happy. Mammootty ends the message with a warm sign off, hinting that both actors have much more to share when they return with their upcoming projects.                                         Mammootty Reflects on the Journey of KalamkavalJust a day before the video was released, Mammootty posted a still from the film on Instagram to acknowledge the outpouring of love. His caption read, “Last 2 days have been nothing short of overwhelming. I am truly blown away by the love Kalamkaval has been receiving since its release. Thank you for your trust in my choices.”The actor has drawn attention throughout the film’s promotional run for playfully withholding details about his character. This approach only deepened curiosity among fans, especially as the film’s marketing positioned Vinayakan as the cop leading the investigation at the core of the story.Kalamkaval revolves around a trail of brutal murders unfolding along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. As the mystery intensifies, Vinayakan’s character attempts to untangle clues that point to a larger, more disturbing pattern. Mammootty’s enigmatic role adds a layer of intrigue that audiences have embraced.                                                                 View this post on Instagram          A post shared by Mammootty (@mammootty)                         A Crime Thriller That Sidesteps Familiar TropesThe early response to Kalamkaval from critics and audiences has been especially positive, with many appreciating how the film subverts the more predictable beats of the genre. Viewers have pointed out that the film builds its tension through atmosphere rather than excess, relying on mood, pacing and visual storytelling to keep the mystery compelling, instead of leaning on heavy exposition or elaborate backstories to explain its setting, especially for its antagonist. This restraint, combined with the unsettling world the film constructs along the border region, has been repeatedly cited as one of its strongest qualities, helping the film stand out in an increasingly crowded thriller landscape.This careful balancing of tension and restraint has struck a chord with viewers and critics alike, adding further momentum to the film’s early theatrical run.With strong word of mouth and a pair of grateful leading men, Kalamkaval is positioned to continue its successful journey. The video from Mammootty and Vinayakan serves not only as a thank you but also as a warm acknowledgment of a film that has clearly resonated with its audience.Also Read: Kalamkaval Review: Mammootty Steps Into The Shadows in a Slow Burning Crime Mystery。    WASHINGTON -- Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 3.2% increase in their benefits in 2024, far less than this year's historic boost and reflecting moderating consumer prices.The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, means the average recipient will receive more than $50 more every month beginning in January, the Social Security Administration said Thursday. The AARP estimated that increase at $59 per month. “This will help millions of people keep up with expenses,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Social Security’s acting commissioner.About 71 million people — including retirees, disabled people and children — receive Social Security benefits. Thursday's announcement follows this year’s 8.7% benefit increase, brought on by record 40-year-high inflation, which pushed up the price of consumer goods. With inflation easing, the next annual increase is markedly smaller.“Compared to last year's 8.7% increase, this is going to feel small and the perception is that its not keeping up with the inflation and the higher costs that retirees are still seeing,” said Martha Shedden, president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts.On top of that, an anticipated increase in Medicare premiums for 2024 will eat into the Social Security cost-of-living bump.Medicare hasn’t announced the increase for traditional Medicare, but said the cost of Medicare Advantage plans is expected to remain stable.Still, senior advocates applauded the annual Social Security adjustment.“Retirees can rest a little easier at night knowing they will soon receive an increase in their Social Security checks to help them keep up with rising prices,” AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said. “We know older Americans are still feeling the sting when they buy groceries and gas, making every dollar important." Social Security is financed by payroll taxes collected from workers and their employers. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes will be $168,600 for 2024, up from $160,200 for 2023. Retirees whose sole income comes from Social Security are not subject to taxes on that income.Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, an advocacy group for the social insurance program, said that the COLA is a “reminder of Social Security’s unique importance" and that “Congress should pass legislation to protect and expand benefits.”However, the program faces a severe financial shortfall in the coming years.The annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report released in March said the program’s trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2033. If the trust fund is depleted, the government will be able to pay only 77% of scheduled benefits, the report said.There have been legislative proposals to shore up Social Security, but they have not made it past committee hearings.A March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that most U.S. adults are opposed to proposals that would cut into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and 79% of people polled said they oppose reducing the size of Social Security benefits.The Social Security Administration is still without a permanent leader. President Joe Biden in July nominated former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley to lead the agency.The COLA is calculated according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, or CPI. But there are calls for the agency to instead use a different index, the CPI-E, which measures price changes based on the spending patterns of the elderly, like health care, food and medicine costs.Any change to the calculation would require congressional approval. But with decades of inaction on Social Security and with the House at a standstill after the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., seniors and their advocates say they don’t have confidence any sort of change will be approved soon. The cost of living adjustments will have a big impact on people like Alfred Mason, an 83-year-old Louisiana resident. Mason said that “any increase is welcomed, because it sustains us for what we are going through.”As inflation is still high, he said, anything added to his income “would be greatly appreciated.”。

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