Headlines
Maximize Social Security Benefits With These 4 Tricks
Neil Templin of Barron’s writes an easy to understand piece on how to maximize Social Security benefits. So much is written on this topic, but it usually boils down to this advice: make sure you have a full 35 year…
Social Security Earnings Test or Penalty: A Thorough Explanation
Tom Margenau, who writes a weekly column on Social Security matters, explains how the law has always stated that you had to be “retired” to get “retirement” benefits. The rules used to apply to all, but Congress gradually lessened the…
Happy Labor Day from Social Security Report!
We will be back Tue-Fri this week with more Social Security. In the meantime, take a 4 question quiz testing your your knowledge of this holiday that is the unofficial end of summer. Answers below. The Labor Day holiday grew…
The Elusive Maximum Social Security Benefit
There is a defined “maximum Social Security benefit” which is established by the Social Security Administration every year, but for most applicants that maximum benefit is theoretical rather than practicable. That’s because in order to achieve the maximum possible Social…
About Those Pesky Medicare Advantage TV Ads
If you watch TV at all, you’ve seen familiar faces touting how your healthcare life could be so much more wonderful if you’ll only “call the number on the screen.” A past football star, a fictional spaceship captain, and an…
Taxation of Social Security Benefits
As the saying goes, there are only two things which are definite, and one of those is taxes. And, unfortunately, retirement income – including your Social Security benefit – may very well become part of your income taxable by the…
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
It’s not a pleasant topic to think about, but about 12% (about 1 in every 8) workers will at some point become disabled, and that can have a devastating impact on their financial well being. But fortunately, those who pay…
The 2023 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA): A Sobering View
Media predictions of another historic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) coming in 2023 are raising expectations for millions of Social Security beneficiaries. Some pundits are suggesting that those who depend heavily on Social Security may see their monthly check increase…
A Critical Look at H.R. 5723 – the Social Security 2100 Act
Contrary to reports from some media outlets (see yesterday’s post on this website), CATO Institute Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy Romina Boccia reports there is definite movement on H.R. 5723, the Social Security 2100 Act proposed last year by…
Social Security Reform: Some Mixed Messaging
In a post on nationalinterest.org, technology writer Stephen Silver offers commentary on the various congressional messaging surfacing on the subject of Social Security reform. Silver’s article references some of the positions taken recently by various sources, including Rick Scott, Nancy…