Latest News
Covering the Bases: Qualifying for stay in skilled nursing facility
My 92-year-old father was in the hospital for two days for observation following a terrible fall. Fortunately he is only badly bruised but may need to go to a skilled nursing facility until his mobility improves. Will Medicare pay for…
The New CBO Report: Medicare Really Is Looking Better, But Not Good Enough
The Congressional Budget Office released their update to the Budget and EconomicOutlook for the next decade Wednesday. Damian Paletta has a summary for the Wall Street Journal, but here are three big takeaways for thinking about policy choices in the coming…
Allsup Provides Social Security and Veterans Disability Appeals Screenings at National Alliance on Mental Illness Convention
Four of the top 10 global causes of disability are mental illnesses, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the U.S., about one-third of individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits have a diagnosed mental disorder, according to…
Does going back to work affect your Social Security benefits?
The silver haired tsunami is sweeping across America. For those retirees not financially surfing at the top sipping Mai Tais, going back to work is a real possibility. If the idea of going back to work in your 60s or…
CBO: Why VA claims exploded and ways to slow the trend
America’s population of living veterans fell by almost 5 million, or 17 percent, from 2000 to 2013. So why did the number of veterans drawing disability compensation climb by 55 percent over that period? And why has yearly VA disability…
How Much Should You Really Count on Social Security for Your Retirement?
Are you counting on Social Security to provide most, or even all, of your post-retirement income? If so, you should know that the average monthly Social Security benefit right now is less than $1,300. Mind you, that’s just an average…
How to Complain to Medicare
How Medicare handles complaints and appeals is no trivial matter — the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it reviews more than 100,000 of them a year. Beneficiaries file roughly 16,000 annually related to hospital care (mostly contesting discharges)…
This Is What $1000 of Monthly Retirement Income Really Looks Like
There is a lot of talk about how much money one should save for retirement and what percentage of assets retirees can withdraw each year. However, many retirees hope to preserve their principal, living off just their investments. That sounds…
Phased Retirement: Case Studies
With all the news lately about the upcoming phased retirement option for federal employees, many people are considering whether it makes sense for them. To help clarify the issues at stake, let’s look at a couple of case studies, one…
How to protect yourself against identity theft
The elderly are often specifically targeted for identity theft. Identity theft and fraud against the elderly is a particularly insidious problem because in many instances, once the senior realizes that he or she has been scammed or made the victim…