Headlines
SSA Making Processing Claims Safer
Social Security recently announced required in person identity proof for those applying by telephone. There was such a reaction from the public, especially concerning elderly or disabled persons difficulty in getting to an office, that the policy has been modified…
Declining mortality rates do not bode well for Social Security
“Mortality rates are declining, and living beyond 90 is in reach for many, as medical advancements have made it possible to live longer than ever before.” That statement is the key thrust of this Fortune magazine article about how changing demographics are…
“Anti-Fraud” screening at Social Security eases need for in-person identity checks
In what appears to be a concession due to public outcry over the need to visit a local office to verify identity for some SSA transactions, the Social Security Administration has announced a new “anti-fraud” check which will flag telephone…
How Safe Are your Social Security Benefits?
Well, if you listen to all of the media reports these days, you might very well be concerned amount the safety of this crucial senior benefit program! On any given day, you may read about how “Social Security is going…
Social Security is changing; but how?
Social Security sure has been in the media spotlight recently, with many accounts predicting benefit cuts, and some even predicting the demise of the program. Of course, most of that is hyperbolic nonsense, but what is the real situation with…
Social Security promise – broken, or not?
During the recent election cycle, all candidates promised that Social Security “would not be touched.” That included President Trump, who committed that he would not “touch” Social Security. But with the recent events associated with the Department of Government Efficiency…
Debt is impacting retirement
Debt, mostly credit card and medical debt, is the highest form of borrowing among Boomers and Gen X, according to a recent report released by National Debt Relief, a debt settlement organization. Half the respondents reported being “overwhelmed” by debt.…
Providing workforce retirement benefits
Most employers are committed to providing workforce retirement benefits for the foreseeable future, according to the recently released MetLife’s 2025 Enduring Retirement Model Study. The study found that 8 in 10 large plan sponsors “cannot envision a time when their…
Social Security insolvency is fixable
Not a day goes by that we don’t see some media posts about Social Security going bankrupt. Yes, the Social Security Trust fund is facing an insolvency issue in the coming years; however, it is fixable. One fixable item is…
Medicare’s efforts to root out improper payments, fraud, waste and abuse
The Medicare program covers 68 million people and represents 15 percent of all federal spending. There are 1.4 million healthcare providers and almost a dozen different payment systems; improper payments and fraud have occurred. Despite actions over the years to reduce…