Pacific & Palau News Items on US Money, COVID & SS Funds, US military, Pacific Politics
OEK demands SS rescind decision to stop the $50 benefit payment TODAY, Threatening legal action for failure to withdraw
by Island Times
October 18, 2022
Once again, Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) leadership is demanding that Chairperson Johana Ngiruchelbad and members of the Palau Social Security Administration Board of Trustees (SSA), rescind their decision and “withdraw the public announcement with all possible haste,” otherwise face legal consequences.
Last week, the Palau Social Security Administration informed all SS beneficiaries that SSA would no longer pay out the $50 monthly supplemental benefit effective October 14. The Social Security Administration cited that the ROP SSA Actuarial Study of 2020 showed that the Fund would collapse if it continues current practices.
The $50 monthly supplemental benefit created by law was funded directly by government appropriations as a supplement to what SS beneficiaries were already receiving based on their contributions. The government was able to appropriate $2.4 million each year, in 2020 and 2021, from the national budget to fund this supplemental benefit. In FY 2022, RPPL 11-13 passed mandating SSA to pay the supplemental benefit from SSA’s funds should the government appropriations fall short.
In their letter, Senate President Hokkons Baules and House Speaker Sabino Anastacio said that “withholding these benefits risks literally taking food out of mouths of retired and disabled beneficiaries.” Furthermore, they added that withholding the supplemental benefits would violate Social Security Administration’s legal responsibilities.
OEK leaders contend that SSA Board has no authority to suspend or terminate benefits set by law. SSA authorities under the law, according to the OEK letter, include “power to determine who is a valid Social Security Beneficiary,.. invest assets of the Retirement Fund within guidelines set by law.
Under the FY 2023 national budget, the government appropriated $1.2 million to pay for the $50 supplemental for old age insurance and disability. The funds for this budget item come from the Fisheries Protection Trust Fund. This is a separate monthly supplemental benefit from the $50 monthly supplemental benefit that all SSA beneficiaries receive.
The SSA Board of Trustees argues that its primary role under the Social Security Administration’s Act is to ensure the health and sustainability of the Retirement Fund and that the SSA law requires an actuarial study before changes are made to the benefits. The laws that created the additional monthly benefit payments were made without an actuarial study.
As a result of the COVID-19 impact, the number of contributors (employees) to SSA has dropped by about 1,000, resulting in fewer contributions collected. SSA is receiving less money and paying out more, and with a looming recession, it is bracing itself to lose some of its investments in the market. SSA Board said it is ‘bound by our fiduciary duty to safeguard the SS Fund and we simply can’t allow further depletion of the SS Fund.”
President Surangel Whipps had submitted a bill dubbed “Social Security Stabilization & Continuity Act” to help make SSA sustainable “without backing or funding from the national government.” The bill is at the second reading in the Senate. This SSA reform bill will address these new funding obligations, raises the retirement age to 65, and increases employees’ SSA contributions from 7% to 9%.
“The Olbiil Era Kelulau shares your concern for the long-term health of the Retirement Fund…Olbiil era Kelulau is taking all possible actions, both publicly and behind the scenes to secure the future of the Social Security Retirement Fund,” stated the OEK letter.
It added, “We acknowledge that your proposed action appears to be motivated by this same concern. However, we cannot allow the well-being of thousands of citizens to be threatened by the premature action proposed in public and behind the scenes, to secure the future of the Social Security Retirement Fund.”
This would be the third time that the SSA Board of Trustees and Olbiil Era Kelulau (national congress) tussled over the $50 monthly supplemental benefits to SS beneficiaries. Each time SSA Board informs the public that they cannot fund the additional monthly supplemental benefit from the SSA fund, they will stop it. And each time Olbiil era Kelulau moves to stop SSA from cutting off the supplemental benefit payments. This occurred in Feb 2021 and again in April 2022.
https://islandtimes.org/oek-demands-ss-rescind-decision-to-stop-the-50-benefit-payment-today-threatening-legal-action-for-failure-to-withdraw/
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Two fallen Palauan soldiers return home for burial
by Leilani Reklai
October 18, 2022
The remains of the two fallen young Palauan soldiers in the United States military arrived home this week to their families for funeral and burial.
Kyle Steven, 30 years of age, who died in Hawaii, and Airman 1st Class Keija Xavier Hilt, 20, who died in Okinawa, were honored with a water salute upon landing at the Palau International Airport.
Airman 1st Class Keija Xavier Hilt, 20, of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa was reported by the US Military Stars and Strips news to have died after a snorkeling incident in Okinawa. According to the news reports, he and two other people were snorkeling when they were swept out to sea. Despite rescue efforts, he was found on the fifth day of the search.
Not much information was available for Kyle Steven, although he, too, received a water salute upon arrival.
Minister of State Aitaro said he was reaching out to the US Embassy for more information. “Normally, we are informed when fallen Palauan soldiers are flown home, but we were not informed this time. Hopefully, we can sort this out soon,” stated Minister Aitaro when contacted.
Per capita, Palau has the highest number of citizens in the US military compared to other states of the United States.
There’s a growing veteran population, with a number of retired Palauans from the US military choosing to come back home despite the lack of US Veterans Affairs service on the island.
https://islandtimes.org/two-fallen-palauan-soldiers-return-home-for-burial/
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WIOA to refund claimants for deductions on CARES Act benefits
by Leilani Reklai
October 18, 2022
Today, October 18, 2022, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Office will be disbursing $1,019,695.60 refund checks to 630 claimants for deductions made on their Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and FPUC benefits, according to the announcement issued by the WIOA Office last week.
The second and final refund disbursement will be issued on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. The amount of the second disbursement will be announced later.
According to the WIOA Office, the United States Department of Labor (US DOL) has approved using the remaining balance from the $18 million received in October of 2021 for the PUA/FPUC assistance to refund the deductions taken from the benefit payments of claimants between June 23, 2020, and December 31, 2020.
From June 2020 to December 2020, SS contributions, Health Insurance, and Income Taxes were deducted from the CARES Act claimants’ pandemic unemployment assistance. After December 31, 2020, it was determined that deductions should not have been made, and the US government demanded that deductions be refunded back to the claimants.
The income tax withheld was refunded back, but SSA and HCF deductions were problematic due to the nature of the programs.
The announcement noted that not all claimants of the CARES Act would be receiving refunds because not all had deductions on their PUA/FPUC benefits.
WIOA Office asks that CARES Act claimants wait to be called rather than calling the office to see if he/she is on the list of recipients of refunds.
https://islandtimes.org/wioa-to-refund-claimants-for-deductions-on-cares-act-benefits/
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Opinion
U.S Partnership declaration rings hollow, says Pacific Elders Voice
by Island Times
October 18, 2022
MELBOURNE/HAGATNA (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) - With China’s threats being the bedrock of its revitalised interest in the Blue Pacific region, Washington has overlooked climate change as the most troubling concern for island countries, according to the Pacific Elders Voice (PEV).
Rendering their verdict on the U.S-Pacific Partnership Declaration recently sealed at the White House, the Pacific Elders were not too keen on its content,
While the declaration “outlined in broad terms and restored what existed in the past, reflecting a reevaluation of Pacific island countries’ relationship with the U.S,” PEV doubted it would entail any substantial outcome.
“We feel this was a lost opportunity to demonstrate more tangibly U.S commitment to climate action, recognise climate change as the single biggest security threat to the region and underscore the sense of urgency for climate actions,” PEV said in a statement.
While “tackling the climate crisis together” was listed in the declaration as a priority, the Pacific Elders said the funding aid pledged by the U.S leaves much to be desired.
“The overall funding announcement of an additional US$810 million over 10 years to 15 countries is inadequate to deal with the climate crisis facing the region,” they said.
The 11-point declaration was signed by President Biden and leaders of Pacific island countries, including Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The declaration signing capped the U.S-Pacific Island Country Summit hosted by the White House from 28- 29 September.
“It appears that the declaration is a rebranding of existing partnerships including fisheries, compact funding (negotiations already undergoing with three PICs) but nothing new for the rest of the Pacific Islands Forum,” the Pacific Elders said.
“There are many statements of shallow aspiration on important issues such as peace, security, regionalism, resilience, economic growth, maritime, nuclear etc with little commitment to a specific action in the declaration,” the statement added.
The Pacific Elders noted that the summit was “largely a response to the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Pacific region and the world generally” that pushed climate change into a mere footnote.
“Leading up to COP27, this could have been demonstrated through firm commitments on the part of the U.S, as the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, in its nationally determined contribution on its reduction actions come 2030,” said PEV, which comprises former island leaders.
The group noted that “global emission reduction of at least 55 percent by 2030, below 2020 levels needs to be achieved in order to keep the Paris Agreement temperature target goal alive.”
Besides climate change, PEV reminded the U.S that the legacy of its nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands continues to be an ongoing point of contention.
“We urge the U.S to earnestly address this issue in the ongoing negotiations with the Marshall Islands,” PEV said.
The group also reminded the U.S of its yet-to-be-fulfilled proposed action on the safe removal and disposal of unexploded ordnance and WWII wrecks in the region.
PEV members include Hilda Heine, Tommy Remengesau and Anote Tong, former presidents of the Marshall Islands, Palau and Kiribati, respectively; Enele Sopoaga, former Tuvalu prime minister; Dame Meg Taylor, former secretary general of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat; Robert Underwood, former Guam delegate to U.S Congress; Kaliopate Tavola, former Fiji minister; and Konai Helu Thaman, former professor at the University of the South Pacific…. PACNEWS
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-partnership-declaration-rings-hollow-says-pacific-elders-voice/
by Island Times
October 18, 2022
Once again, Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) leadership is demanding that Chairperson Johana Ngiruchelbad and members of the Palau Social Security Administration Board of Trustees (SSA), rescind their decision and “withdraw the public announcement with all possible haste,” otherwise face legal consequences.
Last week, the Palau Social Security Administration informed all SS beneficiaries that SSA would no longer pay out the $50 monthly supplemental benefit effective October 14. The Social Security Administration cited that the ROP SSA Actuarial Study of 2020 showed that the Fund would collapse if it continues current practices.
The $50 monthly supplemental benefit created by law was funded directly by government appropriations as a supplement to what SS beneficiaries were already receiving based on their contributions. The government was able to appropriate $2.4 million each year, in 2020 and 2021, from the national budget to fund this supplemental benefit. In FY 2022, RPPL 11-13 passed mandating SSA to pay the supplemental benefit from SSA’s funds should the government appropriations fall short.
In their letter, Senate President Hokkons Baules and House Speaker Sabino Anastacio said that “withholding these benefits risks literally taking food out of mouths of retired and disabled beneficiaries.” Furthermore, they added that withholding the supplemental benefits would violate Social Security Administration’s legal responsibilities.
OEK leaders contend that SSA Board has no authority to suspend or terminate benefits set by law. SSA authorities under the law, according to the OEK letter, include “power to determine who is a valid Social Security Beneficiary,.. invest assets of the Retirement Fund within guidelines set by law.
Under the FY 2023 national budget, the government appropriated $1.2 million to pay for the $50 supplemental for old age insurance and disability. The funds for this budget item come from the Fisheries Protection Trust Fund. This is a separate monthly supplemental benefit from the $50 monthly supplemental benefit that all SSA beneficiaries receive.
The SSA Board of Trustees argues that its primary role under the Social Security Administration’s Act is to ensure the health and sustainability of the Retirement Fund and that the SSA law requires an actuarial study before changes are made to the benefits. The laws that created the additional monthly benefit payments were made without an actuarial study.
As a result of the COVID-19 impact, the number of contributors (employees) to SSA has dropped by about 1,000, resulting in fewer contributions collected. SSA is receiving less money and paying out more, and with a looming recession, it is bracing itself to lose some of its investments in the market. SSA Board said it is ‘bound by our fiduciary duty to safeguard the SS Fund and we simply can’t allow further depletion of the SS Fund.”
President Surangel Whipps had submitted a bill dubbed “Social Security Stabilization & Continuity Act” to help make SSA sustainable “without backing or funding from the national government.” The bill is at the second reading in the Senate. This SSA reform bill will address these new funding obligations, raises the retirement age to 65, and increases employees’ SSA contributions from 7% to 9%.
“The Olbiil Era Kelulau shares your concern for the long-term health of the Retirement Fund…Olbiil era Kelulau is taking all possible actions, both publicly and behind the scenes to secure the future of the Social Security Retirement Fund,” stated the OEK letter.
It added, “We acknowledge that your proposed action appears to be motivated by this same concern. However, we cannot allow the well-being of thousands of citizens to be threatened by the premature action proposed in public and behind the scenes, to secure the future of the Social Security Retirement Fund.”
This would be the third time that the SSA Board of Trustees and Olbiil Era Kelulau (national congress) tussled over the $50 monthly supplemental benefits to SS beneficiaries. Each time SSA Board informs the public that they cannot fund the additional monthly supplemental benefit from the SSA fund, they will stop it. And each time Olbiil era Kelulau moves to stop SSA from cutting off the supplemental benefit payments. This occurred in Feb 2021 and again in April 2022.
https://islandtimes.org/oek-demands-ss-rescind-decision-to-stop-the-50-benefit-payment-today-threatening-legal-action-for-failure-to-withdraw/
------------------------------------------------
Two fallen Palauan soldiers return home for burial
by Leilani Reklai
October 18, 2022
The remains of the two fallen young Palauan soldiers in the United States military arrived home this week to their families for funeral and burial.
Kyle Steven, 30 years of age, who died in Hawaii, and Airman 1st Class Keija Xavier Hilt, 20, who died in Okinawa, were honored with a water salute upon landing at the Palau International Airport.
Airman 1st Class Keija Xavier Hilt, 20, of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa was reported by the US Military Stars and Strips news to have died after a snorkeling incident in Okinawa. According to the news reports, he and two other people were snorkeling when they were swept out to sea. Despite rescue efforts, he was found on the fifth day of the search.
Not much information was available for Kyle Steven, although he, too, received a water salute upon arrival.
Minister of State Aitaro said he was reaching out to the US Embassy for more information. “Normally, we are informed when fallen Palauan soldiers are flown home, but we were not informed this time. Hopefully, we can sort this out soon,” stated Minister Aitaro when contacted.
Per capita, Palau has the highest number of citizens in the US military compared to other states of the United States.
There’s a growing veteran population, with a number of retired Palauans from the US military choosing to come back home despite the lack of US Veterans Affairs service on the island.
https://islandtimes.org/two-fallen-palauan-soldiers-return-home-for-burial/
------------------------------------------------
WIOA to refund claimants for deductions on CARES Act benefits
by Leilani Reklai
October 18, 2022
Today, October 18, 2022, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Office will be disbursing $1,019,695.60 refund checks to 630 claimants for deductions made on their Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and FPUC benefits, according to the announcement issued by the WIOA Office last week.
The second and final refund disbursement will be issued on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. The amount of the second disbursement will be announced later.
According to the WIOA Office, the United States Department of Labor (US DOL) has approved using the remaining balance from the $18 million received in October of 2021 for the PUA/FPUC assistance to refund the deductions taken from the benefit payments of claimants between June 23, 2020, and December 31, 2020.
From June 2020 to December 2020, SS contributions, Health Insurance, and Income Taxes were deducted from the CARES Act claimants’ pandemic unemployment assistance. After December 31, 2020, it was determined that deductions should not have been made, and the US government demanded that deductions be refunded back to the claimants.
The income tax withheld was refunded back, but SSA and HCF deductions were problematic due to the nature of the programs.
The announcement noted that not all claimants of the CARES Act would be receiving refunds because not all had deductions on their PUA/FPUC benefits.
WIOA Office asks that CARES Act claimants wait to be called rather than calling the office to see if he/she is on the list of recipients of refunds.
https://islandtimes.org/wioa-to-refund-claimants-for-deductions-on-cares-act-benefits/
----------------------------------------------
Opinion
U.S Partnership declaration rings hollow, says Pacific Elders Voice
by Island Times
October 18, 2022
MELBOURNE/HAGATNA (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) - With China’s threats being the bedrock of its revitalised interest in the Blue Pacific region, Washington has overlooked climate change as the most troubling concern for island countries, according to the Pacific Elders Voice (PEV).
Rendering their verdict on the U.S-Pacific Partnership Declaration recently sealed at the White House, the Pacific Elders were not too keen on its content,
While the declaration “outlined in broad terms and restored what existed in the past, reflecting a reevaluation of Pacific island countries’ relationship with the U.S,” PEV doubted it would entail any substantial outcome.
“We feel this was a lost opportunity to demonstrate more tangibly U.S commitment to climate action, recognise climate change as the single biggest security threat to the region and underscore the sense of urgency for climate actions,” PEV said in a statement.
While “tackling the climate crisis together” was listed in the declaration as a priority, the Pacific Elders said the funding aid pledged by the U.S leaves much to be desired.
“The overall funding announcement of an additional US$810 million over 10 years to 15 countries is inadequate to deal with the climate crisis facing the region,” they said.
The 11-point declaration was signed by President Biden and leaders of Pacific island countries, including Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The declaration signing capped the U.S-Pacific Island Country Summit hosted by the White House from 28- 29 September.
“It appears that the declaration is a rebranding of existing partnerships including fisheries, compact funding (negotiations already undergoing with three PICs) but nothing new for the rest of the Pacific Islands Forum,” the Pacific Elders said.
“There are many statements of shallow aspiration on important issues such as peace, security, regionalism, resilience, economic growth, maritime, nuclear etc with little commitment to a specific action in the declaration,” the statement added.
The Pacific Elders noted that the summit was “largely a response to the evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Pacific region and the world generally” that pushed climate change into a mere footnote.
“Leading up to COP27, this could have been demonstrated through firm commitments on the part of the U.S, as the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, in its nationally determined contribution on its reduction actions come 2030,” said PEV, which comprises former island leaders.
The group noted that “global emission reduction of at least 55 percent by 2030, below 2020 levels needs to be achieved in order to keep the Paris Agreement temperature target goal alive.”
Besides climate change, PEV reminded the U.S that the legacy of its nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands continues to be an ongoing point of contention.
“We urge the U.S to earnestly address this issue in the ongoing negotiations with the Marshall Islands,” PEV said.
The group also reminded the U.S of its yet-to-be-fulfilled proposed action on the safe removal and disposal of unexploded ordnance and WWII wrecks in the region.
PEV members include Hilda Heine, Tommy Remengesau and Anote Tong, former presidents of the Marshall Islands, Palau and Kiribati, respectively; Enele Sopoaga, former Tuvalu prime minister; Dame Meg Taylor, former secretary general of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat; Robert Underwood, former Guam delegate to U.S Congress; Kaliopate Tavola, former Fiji minister; and Konai Helu Thaman, former professor at the University of the South Pacific…. PACNEWS
https://islandtimes.org/u-s-partnership-declaration-rings-hollow-says-pacific-elders-voice/