Headlines
Should we change how COLA is calculate?
Social Security recipients will receive their 2.8 percent COLA increase in January; however, with the annual inflation rate of 3 percent, seniors are struggling to keep up with rising prices. Not only are seniors dissatisfied with the meager amount, but…
Why only 8% wait until age 70
You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits only when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age…
Western nations are addressing similar public pension challenges
The good news is that more than 74 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment starting in January 2026. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has just released the annual inflation rate at 3 percent, further…
Demystifying Social Security Disability
Much of the mystery about Social Security disability stems from a simple misunderstanding of what it is – an insurance program for working Americans who become disabled before their full Social Security (SS) retirement age. Just like any other insurance…
Friday Wrap-Up: More Thoughts on the Nagging Insolvency Problem
Citing examples of congressional actions exacerbating Social Security’s financial troubles (think WEP/GPO repeal, for instance), Forbes Senior Contributor Howard Gleckman offers a recap of corrective measures being advanced by policy experts. As Gleckman explains, many of the measures differ considerably…
Capping COLA: What Would it Mean for Social Security Solvency?
Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is, naturally, in the news these days. The announcement of an across-the-board 2.8% increase beginning in January has generated quite a bit of commentary, including criticism for its inability to help seniors combat inflation.…
Perspectives on the Taxation of Social Security Benefits
President Trump has led the most recent charge to rescue Social Security beneficiaries from the pain of income tax assessments, but that’s certainly not the first time the thought has emerged. Through the years, many have argued that including a…
Delaying Benefits to Age 70–The Argument Rages
Claiming Social Security benefits at age 62–the earliest possible age to collect retirement benefits–is still the most popular choice for those aging into the system. More than a fifth of new filers choose that option, despite the reduction from their…
Understanding the 2026 Social Security COLA: What Seniors Need to Know
After weeks of anticipation and a two-week delay, the Social Security Administration has announced the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. Beginning in January, recipients will see a 2.8 percent increase in their monthly benefit payments. This yearly adjustment is meant…
Understanding Social Security for Divorced Spouses
Divorce is usually traumatic and sometimes acrimonious, but such emotions are absent from Social Security’s rules governing benefits for divorced spouses. If the marriage lasted at least 10-consecutive years, benefits from a former spouse are the same as if the…