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VA Democrats Throw the Book at Cuccinelli
A Democratic TV ad goes a little too far when it says GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli’s new book “questions whether Medicare and Social Security should exist.” Cuccinelli’s book criticizes social welfare programs — including Social Security and Medicare —…
How Repeal Of DOMA Affects Same-Sex Couples’ Finances, Part 2
Aside from income and estate taxes, there are many other changes for same sex couples now that the federal Defense Of Marriage Act has been struck down. Take, for instance, health insurance. The cost of covering a spouse under a…
NECAC warns seniors about scam
The not-for-profit North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC), a 12-county area social service, community health and public housing community action agency, is warning senior citizens about a scam involving so-called free medical alert services. Read more… Notice: The “Read…
For 26 years after Mobile man’s death, $85,341 in Social Security checks kept coming
When Willis Edward Johnson’s father died in 1984, he tried informing the Social Security Administration and even attempted to close a bank account where the government deposited the retirement money. Except for a brief period in August 1988, the checks kept…
Social Security: Find Your Best Filing Strategy
For most households, there’s no retirement resource more important than Social Security. And making smart decisions about when to file for benefits can make a difference of thousands of dollars during your lifetime–especially for married couples, who can take advantage…
Medicare, Social Security Are Bargains for Beneficiaries
In the current debates over cuts to federal spending, organizations that advocate for seniors overwhelmingly argue against cuts to Medicare or Social Security. Public opinion polls also find big majorities against cuts. Perhaps the most-used defense of the programs is…
CPI for All Items Increases 0.5% in June 2013; Gasoline, Shelter, Medical Care, Food All Rise
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.8 percent before…
Increase Minimum Wage and Consumer Price Index
But buying those products with increased costs would be impossible for those on social security incomes if the chained CPI is adopted. The chained CPI says that when the costs of goods goes up, we look for cheaper substitutes. Cheaper substitutes are …Read More …
A smart startegy for collecting Social Security
Social Security benefits provide a significant proportion of retirement income for most Americans. Federal data shows that the government program provides 50 percent or more of all income for almost two-thirds of retirees, and 90 percent or more of all income for…
Your ‘my Social Security’
This week on For Your Benefit, Lester Austin, public affairs specialist for the Social Security Administration, joins hosts Bob Leins and John Elliott to talk about Social Security and retirement. Find out what benefits you are entitled to by creating a my Social Security account.…