Headlines
Caution urged before rushing to claim early benefits due to pandemic
Most Americans already claim Social Security at age 62, the earliest possible for retirement benefits. That choice comes with a permanent lifetime reduction, up to 30% off the monthly amount by not waiting until full retirement age (66-67 depending on…
Differing views on payroll tax deferments & elimination
Mark Tapscott of The Epoch Times surveys a number of people and organizations to gauge support for President Trump’s executive order deferring payroll taxes on Social Security. The move is designed to spur hiring and thus job growth now. Some…
What will a Biden presidency mean for America’s growing older population?
Chris Farrell of Marketwatch summarizes key points here from the Democrat party platform and Joe Biden’s website as it pertains to older Americans, though he notes both are “big on promises and light on funding details.” Biden would boost Medicaid…
Where Do The Candidates And Parties Stand On Social Security?
Steve Vernon of Forbes provides an overview of where Joe Biden and Donald Trump are on Social Security reform. The political conventions start this week, and the Social Security program just turned 85 last Friday, August 14th, so the issue…
Widow’s Social Security Benefits
Tom Margenau worked at the Social Security Administration for many years. Now retired, he is a regular contributor of articles about Social Security and the program’s intricate regulations. His articles offer a unique “insider’s” view into how this complex American benefit program…
Stopping Social Security Benefits After Starting Them
Life sometimes deals out a bad card, such as losing your job before you’re ready to retire. When that happens, and if you’re eligible, you may be tempted to claim your Social Security benefits early, before you reach your full…
Saving For Retirement: A “Down the Decades” Guide
Nearly everyone knows that saving for retirement should start early, even in your 20s when you first start out on your chosen career. But simply saying “start saving early” doesn’t really offer much in the way of guidance on how…
Social Security Mistakes Could Cost You Big Time in Retirement
No question that Social Security is a complex program which sometimes bewilders those trying to decide when to claim. Everyone wants to “maximize” their benefit, but precious few want to do what’s necessary to achieve that. Similarly, many people make a…
More on the Payroll Tax Cut
President Trump’s announcement Saturday of a temporary suspension of payroll taxes for workers earning up to $100,000 annually has met with a flurry of rhetoric and conjecture on the details of the executive action. Front and center in the follow-up to…
Social Security could look a bit different next year
With nearly nine out of ten individuals age 65 and older receiving Social Security benefits, there is no program that bears more importance to the financial well-being of American’s seniors. Although the average retired worker is only bringing home a…