Latest News
Cautionary Remarks on the Elimination of Paper Checks
With the planned cessation of paper checks for an estimated 390,000 Social Security recipients on September 30, some sources are sounding the alarm. For example, Social Security Works president Nancy Altman yesterday published a statement describing the move as having…
More on the OBBBA “Bonus Deduction”
The “No Tax on Social Security” Promise President Trump’s campaign pledge to end the taxation of Social Security benefits met with a roadblock in the Senate, prohibiting changes to the structure of Social Security during a budget reconciliation process. Undaunted,…
Full Retirement Age In the News (Again)
Life expectancy has improved substantially since the inception of Social Security nearly a century ago. Consequently, retirement benefits need to be paid for much longer than originally intended. To borrow a phrase from Mercatus Center’s Charles P. Blahous in his…
Update on the “You Earned It, You Keep It” Initiative
As many seniors are aware, “You Earned It, You Keep It” legislation is alive and well in the 119th Congress. H.R. 2909 (sponsored by Rep. Angie Craig D-MN) and S. 2716 (sponsored by Sen. Reuben Gallego D-AZ) are currently winding…
Claim Social Security at age 62? Or 67?
Deciding when to claim your Social Security benefits is often a confusing choice, which tends to make many just claim as soon as they become eligible at age 62. But what do you forfeit by claiming at age 62, versus…
Government Shutdown? Medicare and Social Security Benefits to Continue Uninterrupted
With much partisan rhetoric, Washington, D.C. Democrats and Republicans seem to be headed for an impasse when it comes to keeping government daily operations funded after September 30th. Both sides seem to be locked into their respective legislative priorities, with…
Retirement planning isn’t just about the numbers!
Advice from financial experts seems to be quite plentiful on the internet, offering techniques to earnestly save so that you can retire in comfort. Such factors as “having ten times your salary,” and the so-called “4% rule” are two of…
The High Cost of Healthcare!!!
We all know that healthcare costs rise over time, especially as we age. So the news that higher Medicare premiums, deductibles, and surcharges are expected to go up over the next decade is hardly new news. But what may be…
Reminder: Social Security checks will no longer be sent via US Mail after September 30th.
The Social Security Administration has issued a warning to all those who currently receive their monthly Social Security payment by paper checks: The agency will discontinue issuing monthly SS payments by U.S. Mail after September 30, 2025. This means that…
Predicting 2026 COLA
In this Motley Fool article, the author indicates that the most likely case is that the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will be about 2.7%. That would yield only about $54 in additional monthly benefits for the average Social…