Headlines
The House passes H.R. 82
The full House passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, on Tuesday, November 12th, by a 327 – 75 vote. The bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduces the…
Could the Social Security Fairness Act still pass?
Despite the move by the Freedom Caucus leaders, the House is expected to try to pass H.R.82 – Social Security Fairness Act of 2023. What is the Social Security Fairness Act? This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits…
2025 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2025 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for Medicare Part A and Part B. CMS also released the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) for Parts B and D. The standard…
Analyzing President-elect Trump’s Proposed Elimination of Income Tax on Social Security
The days, weeks, and months following Donald Trump’s return to the White House will be eventful, to be sure. And one of the key policy areas seniors will be following closely is candidate Trump’s promise to remove Social Security benefits…
While the Election Smoke is Clearing, Some Thoughts on Social Security’s Future
The race is over at this point, except for resolution of a few House seats, so attention can now be focused on what might happen on Social Security reform. As most folks know, we’re about eight years away from the…
“Political Intrigue” Sidelines WEP-GPO Bill…For Now, Anyway.
The House Bill to repeal the longstanding and much-aligned Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) Social Security rules appeared headed to a forced floor vote, at least until yesterday. In a procedural move described as “unusual,” outgoing…
Social Security’s 2025 COLA, and a “World of Distress”
The 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment is a welcomed boost for Social Security beneficiaries; that’s a given. And the fact that this adjustment reflects a lessening of the inflationary pressures that have weighed on the economy for the past four years is…
Social Security Reform: A Pragmatic Assessment of Where We Are
Social Security has taken somewhat of a backseat in the 2024 presidential election cycle, with the need for action to correct the long-term problem funding problem overshadowed by the tepid pledges to “protect” the program. This absence of serious attention…
Saving Social Security
Saving Social Security has become a very hot topic recently. There are many opinions as to whether to adjust this or that component of the program. Mike Walden for NC State/CALS News discusses options here… As an example of the…
Comments on the Future of Social Security
Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley is interviewed by WORT Radio in Madison WI on the future of Social Security. He cites issues with customer service and solvency. Read here… As an example of the leading thoughts on reforming Social Security,…