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WILL SOCIAL SECURITY END SOONER THAN 2033?
Another year, another bleak report on the future of Social Security. This June, the Social Security Administration’s Board of Trustees updated numbers to show that the entitlement program is operating at a deficit that will bleed it dry by 2033. Read…
DOMA Decision: Equal Protection For All In Social Security
A recent Wall Street Journal article noted the Social Security Administration’s struggle to cope with last week’s Supreme Court ruling regarding gay marriage. In its ruling, the Court said federal agencies managing federal benefits programs — Read More… Notice: The “Read…
Social Security Bankrupt: Why Our Favorite Welfare Program Is the Best Thing to Ever Happen to the Rich
One of the more dangerous arguments in the debate about the Social Security system is the growing belief that Social Security is part of a social safety-net that protects the elderly or the poor. The argument is dangerous because it expands the charter…
Join the Human Chain Against Chained CPI – AFL-CIO
Be part of a “Human Chain Against the Chained CPI” on Tuesday—a national day of action to protest proposed cuts to Social Security, veterans’ and other federal benefits. The so-called “Chained” CPI proposal would reduce cost-of-living adjustments and prevent benefits…
Are Fees, Fraud Eating Away at Your Social Security?
The U.S. Treasury Department has come under fire recently for a cost-cutting initiative to eliminate paper checks in disbursement of federal benefit payments. Recipients of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income have been required to switch to direct deposit or prepaid…
Beware of “Social Security” Facebook phishing scams
Hijacked Facebook Fan Pages are a great asset to online spammers and scammers, so it’s no wonder that at any given time there are a number of active phishing campaigns aimed at their administrators. Read more… Notice: The “Read…
Robert P. Burns: Don’t balance America’s books on the backs of retirees
John F. Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” Sixty million Americans either in or near retirement walked the walk: They showed what they could do…
Got Severance? Employment Tax Applies For Some, Not Others
Of course, severance pay is fully taxable for income tax purposes, and it is subject to income tax withholding. The question is whether it is also subject to payroll taxes like Social Security tax. You might assume so, and that’s certainly what…
Find, fix and prevent disability fraud
Regarding the June 28 Metro article “Judges tell Congress of pressure to award disability benefits”:The number of Social Security disability claims has increased greatly over the past decade, with 11 million people now receiving benefits averaging $13,500 per year. This calculates…
Hot Line: New scam scares seniors
“Please warn your people about this nasty scheme that’s taking personal identification information from senior citizens,” an email from a reader in another county began. “It’s so bad it’s almost unbelievable, but it happened to my (female relative) and I…