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Basics for Everyone Participating in Social Security
Although most of the basic rules and regulations associated with Social Security have been covered in the many searchable articles on this site, a post by VIBUS contributor Fran Candelera brings together “10 things Americans need to know about retirement…
A Summary of the 2024 Social Security Trustees Report
The 2024 edition of the Social Security Trustees Report–an eagerly awaited annual publication–brought with it a kind of mixed message. First, the projected date of full, combined trust fund depletion was moved back a year to 2035, an update that…
Real-Life Scams in Action
The scammers and fraudsters are continuing their relentless assault on the general population, and many of their targets are Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries. While we strive to keep all our readers current on trends in the murky world of…
“Retirement Preparedness” Is a Growing Concern for Gen Xers
With all this chatter about Social Security’s long-term solvency, and with concerns ranging from reduced benefits to no benefits at all, it’s no wonder that younger workers are developing bleak perspectives on how comfortable their “golden years” will be. Fueling…
Online Social Security Account Holders, Listen Up!
Social Security Administration (SSA) officials have been alerting mySSA holders who registered their account more than four years ago that they’ll need to change their log-in procedure. The alert comes with a header noting “”Important Changes to Access Your Social…
Understanding Cost-of-Living Adjustments
The annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) process is a component of the program generally understood by most current and future beneficiaries. The premise that COLA reflects inflation is part of this general understanding, of course, but the mechanics may…
The Psychology of Retirement…And Why So Many Don’t
In today’s economy, many folks looking ahead to retirement realize that finances may dictate a longer stint in the workforce. Perhaps the “nest egg” isn’t what it needs to be, or the work record doesn’t provide a substantial enough Social…
A Quick Primer (and a Forecast) About Social Security COLAs
We’re well into the first month of the measurement period for calculation of next year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, and it seems like we’re reading about it every day. With the news cycles spending so much time on the issue,…
Zeroing in on Social Security Post-Election Possibilities
While the voting public awaits details on Presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s position on our troubled Social Security system, perspectives are beginning to develop. Yes, it’s only been a few days since the top of the Democrat ticket changed hands, but…
Social Security Numbers Can Be Changed…But Be Careful!
There are legitimate reasons to change one’s Social Security Number (SSN), and Social Security Administration regulations provide a process for doing so. Among the valid reasons are identity theft, mistaken dual issuance of a number, and “religious or cultural objections…