Latest News
Experts Weigh in on the State of Social Security
Social Security is not going away. However, if no changes are made, the combined Old Age, Survivors, and Disability trust funds are projected to be depleted by 2035. This is expected to necessitate a 20 – 25% decrease in benefits.…
Discussion of $4000.00 tax deduction included in “Big Beautiful Bill”
Republicans are using the budget reconciliation process to pass the bill. This lowers the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51 for some fiscal legislation. Supposedly, the reconciliation process forbids direct changes to Social Security; consequently, there’s quite…
Overpayment withholding rate changed again
A short time ago the withholding rate for Social Security overpayments was 10% of your benefit. Then it changed back to it’s original amount of 100%. Now Social Security information says it is going to be 50%. The return of…
What Happened to the removal of federal taxes on Social Security benefits?
The budget plan now under consideration in Congress gives an increased tax deduction of $4000.00 to seniors, but does not remove taxes. Considering the current state of Social Security solvency, it would not be a financially sound decision to take…
Social Security’s Anti-Fraud Policy reversed
A short time ago Social Security announced implementation of fraud prevention tools for telephone claim processing. There was quite an outcry from seniors claiming it would be difficult for many who do not use computers or live far from physical…
Working after Full Retirement Age
Working after Full Retirement Age can sometimes boost your Social Security benefit depending on the circumstances. If your current income exceeds one of the 35 inflation adjusted years used to calculate your benefits, there may be an automatic increase. If…
About Retiring from a Long Working Career
I remember it well – my first day of retirement from over 40 years working in my chosen professional career. It was a day of both trepidation, but excitement looking forward to living my days according to my own rules,…
About Taxation of Social Security – Most States do not tax benefits
There is a lot of media attention about income tax on Social Security benefits these days, what with Congress debating the possibility of eliminating Federal income tax on SS benefits (as President Trump has asked). But in all the hoopla…
The ongoing Saga of Social Security’s “Full Retirement Age”
Although, for many years, age 65 was considered to be the normal retirement age, for Social Security purposes that changed with legislative changes made in 1983. In that year, legislation was enacted which gradually raised the age at which full…
How Age Affects your SS Disability Claim
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program for workers who become disabled and unable to work. SSDI is available to disabled workers until they reach their normal Social Security full retirement age, and is intended to replace income lost…