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Here's is CNN's news article on the COLA increase. https://us.cnn.com/2022/10/13/business/money/social-security-cost-of-living-adjustment-cola-increase/index.html

Here some history on SS COLA increases. Now below chart displays the COLA year a little differently than the COLA announcement by reflecting the COLA year referenced to start 1 Dec of each year when the increase starts being earned and then payment occurs the following Jan. Example: the COLA 2023 announcement of 8.7% is shown as 2022 in the chart. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/colaseries.html

The SSA announced 13 Oct 2022/today that the Social Security increase for 2023 will be 8.7%...the highest since 1981. This COLA increase will also be mirrored in most other U.S. govt pensions like military retirement pension. See below SSA news release. AND, in a separate, earlier announcement the CMS Medicare agency announced Medicare Part B premiums will go down by about $5 in 2023...click this Link to see that earlier Medicare premiums announcement. So no one should complain their SS pension increase will be partially or totally eaten-up by a Medicare premium increase. SSA COLA for 2023 Announcement https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2022/?utm_content=pressrelease&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#10-2022-2 Thursday, October 13, 2022For Immediate Release Social Security Announces 8.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2023 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January. The 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023. Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said. To view a COLA message from Acting Commissioner Kijakazi, please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgm5q4YT1AM. Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $160,200 from $147,000. Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. The fastest way to find out their new benefit amount is to access their personal my Social Security account to view the COLA notice online. It’s secure, easy, and people find out before the mail arrives. People can also opt to receive a text or email alert when there is a new message from Social Security--such as their COLA notice--waiting for them, rather than receiving a letter in the mail. People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Information about Medicare changes for 2023 is available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, their new higher 2023 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security's Message Center. The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.ssa.gov/cola. NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: Here is a fact sheet showing the effect of the various automatic adjustments.

That's what I'm hoping. Regarding the U.S. Medicare, it does "not" provide coverage outside the U.S. (except in rare situations). And I think most other countries' social security medical coverage works the same way...that is, coverage within the home country but not outside. I haven't worked in Thailand....no Thai social security. Now I do have U.S. Medicare coverage "only because" I must maintain it to automatically retain coverage under the U.S. military retiree Tricare for Life medical coverage which provides coverage worldwide. Tricare is the coverage I've been using in Thailand for well over a decade. So, I have Medicare and Tricare coverage but since living in Thailand only the Tricare coverage applies since Medicare only covers in the U.S.; however, when I go back to the U.S. for say a one day visit or permanently I'm automatically covered by Medicare and Tricare the second I set foot on U.S. dirt....kinda like double coverage. But will BOI really understand medical coverage provided by many foreign countries....coverage that even applies if living outside the home country may not come with any document that states coverage in monetary terms like say $1M coverage since the coverage is really unlimited...no dollar limit....and really no policy end date as long as you are paying the monthly premium/stay enrolled....an open ended policy end date so to speak. I'm hoping where the BOI uses the term "social security" medical coverage it's meant in board terms of having some "government medical coverage" although that coverage may not be coming from the Social Security Agency in that country but another part of the government like the military. Hopefully BOI will respond to my question with a clear, definitive answer but I'm not holding my breath. I would like to get some clarification from them versus uploading a bunch of personal info docs for income, medical, etc...etc....etc...to probably live on their servers for years only to be turned down due to medical coverage paperwork.

Can anyone provide more insight on exactly what "or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand" means. Does that mean "Thailand social security" or can it mean a "foreign social security type medical policy" like say the U.S. military retiree Tricare/Tricare for Life medical coverage which provides full in- and out-patient coverage "worldwide" but is not a type of policy that comes with a policy sheet saying $XXX,XXX coverage because the coverage is really unlimited. I have emailed BOI with the question asking for clarification of what "social security...." means, but no response yet. Health insurance with at least USD 50,000 coverage or social security benefits insuring treatment in Thailand or at least USD 100,000 deposit

Couldn't above also imply if operators are "not" driving during this period (13-16 Oct) but during another period that their vehicles don't have to be in good condition, drivers don't have to be well-rested and sober while on duty, and don't have to adhere to road safety?....You know, all too typical truck driving in Thailand.

And then promptly mailed to Santa Claus to identify those who have been naughty....no Christmas gifts if on the list.

Well, after a couple years of the SSA not mailing "Are You Dead or Alive" forms due to the COVID pandemic both the wife and I received a SSA-7162 today/8 July 2022. We live in Bangkok. Apparently the SSA is back to mailing the forms on a regular annual basis for us Thailand-based old folks. Will complete and mail the forms back today.

For those of you who use a Mitsubishi "EP" Series water pump, repeat, "EP" series, like the one pictured in the attachment, Do you get constant/steady water pressure? I currently have a Mitsubishi "WP" Series water pump (came with the house). The WP series is where the pump motor sets on top of a small booster tank, but the design/operation of the WP Series pump is for the water pump to turn off and on as the pressure in its tank reaches approx 30 psi (pump turns on) and 40 psi (pump turns off). The specific psi pressures vary by tank model. While I get an "average" 35 psi water pressure, the pressure is always pulsating every second or two due to pump turning off and on which causes the water from shower heads, taps, hoses, filling up the commodes, etc., to pulsate. And with the commode tank refill you can clearly hear the pulsating. This is normal operation for Mitsubishi WP series pumps, and in fact, other manufacturers pumps based on the same design...a very common design used in Thailand. Yes, I know I could also switch to jet-line type pump that feeds into a large pressure tank which would help reduce pulsating; instead of one or two second pulses I would have pressure changes/pulses which go up and down much slower. However, I would like to get a pump setup that gives me "constant/steady" pressure. The Mitsubishi "CP" series appears it might provide constant pressure (and looks very similar to a EP model), but it appears the CP series is designed to fill up tanks on top of a building where a separate sensor switch is needed to tell the CP pump to turn off....this really wouldn't work for my home setup...plus, I want a pump that is more self controlling. The Mitsubishi "EP" series seems to fit that bill of steady pressure/flow with its built in "flow sensor" but since I see it also has a pressure switch build-in also which is designed to kick-in at at approx 30 to 40 psi (varies slightly by model), I'm concerned the EP may also provide pulsating water, but to a lower degree. This pressure switch may just be used as a safety feature or used under certain circumstances and the flow sensor does all the real controlling. Due to the language barrier and knowledge of the sales assistances in stores, I can't get an answer that confirms to me the pressure/volume from the EP series pump is constant/steady. So, it would be greatly appreciated from you Mitsubishi "EP" Series pump owners/users as to if your EP series pump provides "non-pulsating/steady/constant" pressure/flow. Big thanks.