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At a glance: How to avoid tax refund fraud
As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, tax refund fraud is a growing problem. Here are tips from the federal government on how to avoid becoming a victim, and how to respond if you have become one. Read more……
Medicare info puts welcome spotlight on health care spending
Foes of Obamacare often frame such health reforms as “redistribution” schemes. They take money from hardworking Americans and give it to the presumably undeserving. My conservative friends are right that a lot of health reform is about redistribution. What they get…
Social Security, Treasury target hundreds of thousands of taxpayers for parents’ old debts
A few weeks ago, with no notice, the U.S. government intercepted Mary Grice’s tax refunds from both the IRS and the state of Maryland. Grice had no idea that Uncle Sam had seized her money until some days later, when…
US Budget Deficit Falls in March to $37 Billion
The U.S. government’s budget deficit shrank to just $37 billion in March from $107 billion in the same month last year, the latest sign of improvement in the nation’s finances. The deficit was the lowest for the month of March…
Social Security can be saved with better benefits
With our national debt growing by $3 billion a day and Congress giving up offering any real solutions, we are a speeding train heading for a cliff. Most pretend the problem is not real or will just go away. Almost…
Sen. Toomey Fighting VA Claims Backlog
U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is tackling one of the Veterans Administration’s (VA) longest and most serious shortfalls – the disability claims backlog. As part of his latest effort to help ensure our nation’s veterans receive the service and help they…
Social Security commissioner talks about changes
Montgomery’s Social Security field office is not in danger of closing, but there will be some changes in what services will be offered there, the acting commissioner of the agency said. Carolyn Colvin was in Montgomery on Thursday to speak to…
Dose Of Caution Prescribed When Evaluating New Medicare Data
The headlines about one of Wednesday’s big stories — the release of data from 2012 about Medicare payment to doctors around the nation — are certainly serious sounding: Read more… Notice: The “Read more…” link provided above connects…
Is the end of Social Security numbers at hand?
We’ve all been warned not to use the same password for email, Facebook, and Amazon. But that is exactly what every American does when it comes to our financial lives. We rely on the same nine-digit password for everything from loans…
Consumer alert: Retirement planning means preparing for Baby Boomer set of financial challenges
Sandy Praeger, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, is urging Kansans to take a look at the challenges that Baby Boomers face in planning a financially secure retirement. “Each day about 10,000 Baby Boomers enter their retirement years,” Commissioner Praeger said. “They are…