Latest News
Homeless, disabled struggle to receive social security income
Vallejo’s John Carter is a homeless AIDS patient, and his Supplemental Security Income application has been denied twice since March. A few months ago, The Times-Herald published Carter’s struggle to receive care as a homeless man, and he’s since received…
Learning to adapt key after spouse’s death
There is a very common contingency that no one seems to plan for. Everything is planned for couples — two Social Security checks, two retirement funds, etc. Since most of us are not fortunate enough to go out together, one…
Delaying Social Security Is ‘Best Decision’ – Morningstar Conference
Delaying Social Security payments until 70 is one of the best decisions retirees can make. Michael Kitces, director of research for Pinnacle Advisory Group, said circumstances have changed so that it makes sense to put off taking Social Security. “Everyone gets an…
Social Security: Are Longer Life Expectancies a Threat to Your Benefits
Being smart about Social Security involves making guesses about your life expectancy, and over the past few decades the longevity of retirees has trended steadily upward. But while that’s good news for you, it could be bad news for the…
Treasury Doesn’t Know How Much New MyRA Program Will Cost
In January during his State of the Union Address, President Obama unveiled his new myRA program. “Let’s do more to help Americans save for retirement. Today, most workers don’t have a pension. A Social Security check often isn’t enough on its…
Retirement is bad for your health, and your wealth
With longevity increasing, people are looking for more substance, engagement, income, meaning, and purpose for a new stage of life. Many are working longer, out of economic need or to enhance their financial cushion, to subsidize kids in school and…
Lawmaker questions Utah’s taxation of Social Security
Utah is among a minority of states that tax Social Security benefits, and at least one lawmaker thinks it’s time to rethink that. Sen. Todd Weiler says he intends to pursue legislation that would grant a state income tax exemption —…
Panel questions Social Security field office closings
The Social Security Administration has cut thousands of field workers and reduced hours and services at hundreds of satellite offices over the past four years at a time when baby boomers are starting to hit retirement age, a new Senate…
Expand Medicare to serve all veterans
The problem of long wait times for veterans seeking care at some (but not all) Veterans Health Administration facilities has been front-page news for the past several weeks, and seems to be resulting in an unusually prompt response from a normally gridlocked…
Calculating the 2015 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Would you like to see an increase of 1.69% in your retirement annuity in January 2015? That may happen or, perhaps, the final figure could even be higher. The 1.69% is based on the latest figures from the Consumer Price Index…