Look for monthly Social Security checks to increase in 2004 by an average of $19 after the federal government announced that there would be a 2.1% cost of living increase. The increase will go to more than 51 million Americans eligible for Social Security.
The rate increase by the Social Security Administration reflects the current low inflation rate. The cost of living adjustment in 2003 was 1.4%, or about $13 per month.
But while retirees need the raise, a good percentage of it will be offset by an increase in Medicare premiums that also will take place in 2004. Premiums will rise 13.5% - or $7.90 -  bringing the total monthly cost to $66.60.
New retirees must now be 65 years and 2 months old to be able to collect full Social Security payments. Next year, the eligibility rises to 65 and 4 months, and will eventually increase until it is age 67 for individuals born in or after 1960.

The advice from AT&T is "Don't ever dial area code 809, 284, and 876!" This is a scam that is spreading extremely quickly through e-mails, phone calls and web pages, which can cost the consumer $2,400 or more.
Here's how the scam works. You will receive an e-mail, message on your answering machine or page on your beeper asking you to call a number with an 809 area code because you have won a prize, or a family member is ill, has died, has been arrested, etc… You are asked to call this area code right away, and because area codes have changed so much recently, people call these numbers unwittingly.
If you call an 809, 284, or 876 area code from the U.S., you will be charged $2,425 per minute! Sometimes, you will get a recorded message, and they will try to keep you on the line as long as possible. According to AT&T consumer relations, some people have received telephone bills that top $24,000!
Why does this scam work? Well, the 809 area code is in the British Virgin Islands, and can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, much like 900 numbers in the U.S. But since it

is not a U. S. number, it is not covered by regulations that require the consumer be notified of the rates and charges that accompany these calls.
Also, these companies do not need to provide information as to when a consumer may hang up and not get charged for the service, and homes that have "900 blocking" in the U.S. do not block these calls.
No matter how you get the message or what it says, it is advisable to ignore all requests to call an 809 area code, as well as 284 and 876. If you do fall for this scam, it is very difficult to fight these charges since many phone companies will stay out o the fight and leave consumers to deal with the foreign companies themselves.
Many foreign phone companies will tell the consumers that they did nothing wrong, which, legally, they didn't. Please be aware of this scam and alert your friends to protect them from falling prey.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune
Without the words
And never stops at all.

Emily Dickinson

Some of the most common involve home repairs, fraudulent bank examiners, phony prize winnings, and bogus charitable drives. If you think that you have been a victim of a scam, don't let embarrassment prevent you from reporting your situation to the  Vermont Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program at 1-800-649-2424.