Latest News
Will Social Security Be There When I Retire?
Social Security’s future solvency has become one of the most commonly-discussed issues in retirement planning—and for good reason. Gallup polls show that an estimated 57% of retirees rely on Social Security as a major source of retirement income—a number that…
Editorial: Lessons From Fortunate Retirees
A pair of news stories gave a posthumous 15 minutes of fame last week to two Vermonters who retired successfully, though not lavishly. One was Ida May Fuller, of Ludlow, the nation’s first Social Security recipient. The second, Ronald Read,…
Rep. DeFazio Statement on Social Security
Washington, DC- Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) released the following statement today to highlight the week the country’s millionaires will finish paying their Social Security payroll taxes for the year. “This week, Americans making more than one million dollars a year…
Steps You Should Take If Your Social Security Number’s Stolen
Hackers now have 80 million people’s personal information, including social security numbers and medical ID. Anthem is investigating the data breach that exposed its own employees’ and customers’ information. If thieves steal you social security number, they can open credit cards and…
The Secret Social Security Spousal Benefit
Social Security benefits increase every year that they are delayed from age 62 to age 70. In other words, the longer you wait to claim your benefits, the bigger your Social Security check. Despite the fact that this basic idea…
Social Security to Expand Field Office Hours
Social Security has announced as a result of Congress’ approval of the fiscal year 2015 budget, the agency will expand its hours nationwide and offices will be open to the public for an additional hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and…
A Better Alternative to Social Security?
Two weeks ago I explained how and why the Amish opted out of the Social Security program. Some people basically wrote back, “Great for them, how do I do the same thing?” Other readers said anyone who doesn’t participate in Social Security…
6 Key Facts About Social Security
Here’s a key number: 567. That’s the number of possible ways to claim Social Security benefits, says Joshua Melberg, president of J.D. Melberg Financial in Tucson, Arizona. That 567 figure applies to couples — singles have it a bit simpler —…
Social Security Disability Insurance Confrontation
The new Republican-controlled Congress has adopted a rule that prohibits the transfer of money from the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OAS) Trust Fund to the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund unless Congress takes steps to improve…
To Beat the Coming Disability Insurance Disaster, Stay Healthy
For years Social Security’s trustees (of which I am one) have warned that lawmakers must act to address the troubled finances of the program’s disability insurance (DI) trust fund. Congress has nearly run out of time to do so. Legislation will…