Headlines
Raising the Social Security Tax Cap Called into Question
A post on economics21.org by Manhattan Institute senior fellow Allison Schrager takes aim at the popular theory that eliminating the Social Security tax cap on earnings (presently $137,700) will correct the program’s solvency issue. Her article develops the point that merely eliminating the cap without…
Debate Developing on Social Security Impacts in Controversial 2020 Budget
Social Security Works and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, both active advocacy groups keeping a watchful eye on federal spending plans, are expressing concerns for the fiscal health of this critical senior benefit program under President Trump’s 2020…
Writing Off Social Security?
Being fully aware of AMAC’s–the Association of Mature American Citizens’–efforts to address Social Security’s long-term solvency issue, and also being aware of several other initiatives active in Congress addressing this problem, a post today by The Motley Fool’s Maurie Backman titled…
Food prices, COLAs, and Social Security
“Every time I go to the supermarket, I pay more.” “Food prices keep skyrocketing.” “When I was a kid, bread was a dime.” What’s wrong with these three statements? The first two are plain wrong and the third misleading, as…
Fact checking the State of the Union
Looking to The New York Times for fact-checking of something written by Republicans should always make one skeptical. But the newspaper is out with a revised analysis showing most of the statements made by the president in his Tuesday February 4th…
Yes, Social Security IS an entitlement program
The word “entitlement” gets a bad rap when it comes to Social Security. People think it’s a denigration of the program which provides benefits to 64 million Americans. Entitlement conjures up getting something one doesn’t deserve. Alessandra Malito explains in…
Don’t Tax Savings and Allow Universal Savings Accounts
Saving for retirement could not be more important, especially with Social Security replacing just 40 percent of pre-retirement income. Stephen Moore and Adam Michel of The Daily Signal outline the concept of universal savings accounts, an idea currently under consideration by the Trump…
Who’s Really Paying for Your Social Security Benefits?
A simple question such as “where do my monthly benefit checks come from” is generally not well not understood by most Americans, as a typical reply might be this– “it’s my money; I paid in; I’m getting it back.” Wrong! Dan Caplinger…
Social Security Benefits for Divorced Spouses
Most people are aware that Social Security may provide benefits to a married spouse, even if the spouse never worked outside the home. But many aren’t aware that a divorced spouse may also be eligible for benefits from their ex,…
Gray divorce can throw your retirement plans into disarray
According to data from the Pew Research Center, divorce rates among people over 50 have doubled since the 1990s. “Gray divorce” can be particularly disorienting for spouses who sideline a career to raise a family and have little or no…