Population study finds change in the suburbs, By Sam Roberts, May 8, 2010, New York Times: “As the first decade of the 21st century comes to a close, more black, Asian, Hispanic, foreign-born and poor people live in the suburbs of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas than in their primary cities. ‘Several trends in the 2000s further put to rest the old perceptions of cities as declining, poor, minority places set amid young, white, wealthy suburbs,’ a report released Sunday by the Brookings Institution concluded. That demographic inversion was accompanied by another first since the 2000 census: In the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, black, Hispanic and Asian residents constitute a majority of residents younger than 18 – presaging a benchmark that the nation as a whole is projected to reach in just over a decade…”
Day: May 10, 2010
COBRA Subsidy and the Rate of Unisured
Many who lost jobs used COBRA subsidy, kept insurance, By Sandra Block, May 10, 2010, USA Today: “A new Treasury study says the federal COBRA subsidy, included in last year’s economic stimulus package, may have slowed the growth in the number of uninsured Americans during the recession. The study estimates that up to a third of eligible unemployed workers have taken advantage of the subsidy, which covers up to 65% of the cost of continuing a former employer’s health care coverage for up to 15 months. Under COBRA, workers who leave their jobs can continue their former employer’s health insurance coverage for up to 18 months. Ordinarily, though, they must pay the entire premium, plus administrative costs, making COBRA unaffordable for most people who are out of work…”
Unemployment and Early Retirement
- Hawaii’s jobless seniors forced to tap Social Security early, By Mary Vorsino, May 10, 2010, Honolulu Advertiser: “Older Hawai’i workers who have lost jobs in the recession are exhausting unemployment benefits, spending down their nest eggs and turning to Social Security early in a trend that could threaten their long-term financial security and shows how tough the job market is for seniors. New Social Security figures show that the number of Hawai’i residents who signed up for early retirement last year – in many cases after being unable to find new jobs – was up 36 percent from 2005. Meanwhile, state figures show 22 percent of all claimants for unemployment benefits are over 55…”
- Unemployment pushes workers into early retirement, By Tamara Keith, April 28, 2010, National Public Radio: “For some older Americans who lost jobs in the Great Recession, Social Security is filling the void left when unemployment benefits run out. The Social Security Administration had predicted there would be a 15 percent increase in retirement applications last year as baby boomers reached retirement age. Instead, the increase was 20 percent…”