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Your Pre-Retirement Checklist
In a somewhat alarming statistic, a recent study found that about 40% of those between age 35 and 64 are expected to run out of money in retirement! That’s a sobering statistic, which we would all be wise to pay…
“SSI” vs. “SSDI:” Two Entirely Different Disability Programs
Two different programs administered by the Social Security Administration relate to disability, each entirely different. Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) is a “means-tested” disability program for children and adults with very low income and very few resources. Conversely, Social Security Disability…
Medicare Open Enrollment Coming Soon
Medicare’s annual “open enrollment” period is just around the corner, starting on October 15th. Every year, this is the time when those who are already enrolled in a Medicare program can switch to different coverage if they find their existing…
Avoid these common Social Security missteps
Social Security is the largest government agency, with over 65 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits each month as of August 2022. Like most programs administrated by the federal government, there are rules and exceptions to those rules that make…
Some core tenets of the bill to bolster Social Security
If Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust becomes law, it will expand the Social Security program. The Social Security program has not changed or expanded benefits for almost 51 years, and many Congressional representatives believe it is time. John F.…
Will working after I retire increase my benefits
A recent reader of MarketWatch asked if they returned to work full time after retiring, could their earnings increase their Social Security benefit? They also asked if they have the option of not paying into Social Security anymore. Jim Blankenship, a…
Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2022
If the Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2022 becomes law, it will change how Medicare treats COBRA coverage. If you leave your employer and decide to retain your employer’s coverage for a year through COBRA, you could have possible Medicare…
A few ways to boost your Social Security benefits
You can begin your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to…
A brief look at spousal benefits
A spouse can choose to retire as early as age 62 but doing so may result in a benefit of as little as 32.5 percent of the worker’s primary insurance amount. But what if you never paid into Social Security;…
How much will Social Security benefits increase in 2023?
The Social Security Administration will release the 2023 cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) on October 13th. Many experts are projecting that it will be the largest increase since 1981. The COLA has only gone above 7 percent five times since 1975. So, what…