Headlines
Culture Wars and Social Security…A Changing Landscape
As we wind down this turbulent year, we see a spate of media commentary that smacks of warfare across the generational spectrum regarding Social Security. First, there was the December 11 piece by Andrew G. Biggs (“No, Social Security Isn’t…
Assessing the “Inevitability” of Social Security’s Insolvency
So much of today’s economic and political rhetoric, as well as many studies of Social Security’s steady financial decline, focuses on the predictable consequences of the program’s deficit situation. Many solutions are on the table, and someday they will get…
Senate Confirms Former Maryland Governor as SSA Commissioner
On a 50-11 vote, the U.S. Senate yesterday ended the two-year absence of a permanent Social Security Administration leader. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley will assume the position of Commissioner for the agency, replacing acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi and taking…
“Clawback” Matter Rises on Congressional Priority List
The Senate Finance Committee last week announced its intent to accelerate attention to the Social Security Administration’s massive overpayment problem…the problem through which more than two million Americans each year are subject to demand letters for repayment of benefits they’ve…
Eliminate the Payroll Tax Cap?
The payroll tax cap – the amount of earnings on which workers must make Social Security FICA or SECA (self-employment) contributions – is a metric which many politicians target in their quest for a solution to Social Security’s looming financial…
About Strengthening Social Security
It’s a rather simple principle, but the first step to solving any issue is to completely understand it, and define reason the problem exists in the first place. In other words, a “root cause analysis.” We read many articles which…
Life Expectancy and Social Security
Many news reports say that COVID-19 had an impact on average life expectancy, from which we have not fully recovered. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), life expectancy has recovered somewhat since the pandemic’s end, but it’s still…
Retiring Soon? Here’s What You Should Know
We can always count on Suze Orman to offer sound financial advice, and she certainly delivers in this GoBankingRates article. Suze tees up an excellent perspective on what to consider as you contemplate your retirement future and where and how…
Early Claimers Beware – Social Security Limits How Much You Can Earn
As a Social Security Advisor, I can’t even count the people who have contacted me in panic because they received an Overpayment Notice from Social Security demanding repayment of thousands of dollars in overpaid benefits. The cause? Because they claimed…
Donald Trump and Social Security
There was a time when one would commend a politician for having keen political instincts by avoiding talk of reforming Social Security. But given that insolvency is a decade or less away and deep benefit cuts loom, those who follow…