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3 financial beliefs that make no sense
Many folks are adamant this is the right strategy. Rather than delay Social Security until as late as age 70, thus ensuring a larger monthly benefit for themselves and potentially a larger survivor benefit for their spouse, they’re convinced they…
Dems scramble to perpetuate deceptive Social Security accounting
If it’s left unreformed, over 10 million recipients of Social Security’s disability insurance will have their benefits arbitrarily cut by 20 percent near the end of 2016. Many Democrats want to sweep the problem under the rug with an accounting…
Medicare is the best care if you are age 65 or older
If you are age 65 or older and haven’t signed up for Medicare Part B (medical insurance), now is the time to consider doing it. The general enrollment period for Medicare Part B runs from Jan. 1 through March 31…
Social Security’s Special Tax Rule for Repaying Benefits: Amount of Repayment Determines Method
Increasingly, some financial advisers are encouraging their retirement-age clients who have no immediate need for extra income to repay Social Security benefits they’ve already received and reapply for benefits later when they will be worth more. But what if those Social…
Defending Social Security: Next On Obama’s To-Do List?
Since the midterm elections, President Obama has taken decisive action on immigration reform, climate change and relations with Cuba. Now, the new Republican-controlled Congress has handed him another opportunity to act boldly – by leaving a legacy as a strong…
2015 Changes for Social Security
Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2013 through the third quarter of 2014, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 1.7 percent COLA for 2015. Other important…
The Financially Stressed Favor Democrats, Don’t Vote Much, Study Finds
About half of American adults have no retirement account beyond Social Security, 4 in 10 don’t have a credit card, and 1 in 5 lack a checking account. Statistics like that paint a picture of the widespread nature of financial insecurity…
Your Social Security Number Could Be At Risk
Your Social Security number isn’t safe: Think of all the places you have shared it. Your Social Security number is not very safe for two reasons – where it’s been and where it will be going. Considering how widespread the abuse…
Skip the Social Security Office and Head to Website Instead
Let’s face it, the last thing you want to do is another errand. When it comes to taking care of Social Security business, it is easy. You’ll find that www.socialsecurity.gov makes it easy to stay home and get that one last…
How the New GOP Congress Exposed the Absurdity of Our Budget Debates: Is America Headed for a Debt Crisis? Depends on How You Look At It
House Republicans raised a number of eyebrows with an under-the-radar change to Social Security and disability insurance this week. Social Security proper — also called Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) — and Disability Insurance (DI) both exist under the umbrella of the…