Latest News
Columbus Day Holiday
The staff at Social Security Report are off today for the federal holiday, Columbus Day.
Medicare and a Health Savings Account
Now that you are on Medicare, or getting ready to go on Medicare, you may not be able to contribute to your Health Savings Account (HSA) any longer, but you can still use it to pay for qualifying medical expenses.…
2026 Retirement Rule Change for 401(k) Catch Up Contributions
A popular retirement tax break for catch-up contributions ends in 2026 for higher-income earners. A provision in the 2022 Secure 2.0 Act no longer allows high earners making $145,000 or more to put their catch-up contributions into a traditional 401(k)…
Retirement Can Come with Unexpected Costs
Unexpected expenses catch many Americans by surprise in retirement. One of the largest of these is the cost of Medicare Part B. The current cost of Medicare Part B for 2025 is $185, but is expected to increase to $206.50…
Retirement Doesn’t Always Mean You Have to Start Your Social Security Benefits Early
If you are in a position to retire early and don’t need to start your Social Security benefits at that time, congratulations! If you find yourself in a position where your early retirement wasn’t your choice, there are options you…
Which is better? A Roth IRA or a regular IRA?
The two key differences between a Roth IRA and a regular IRA are that you pay taxes on your contributions to a Roth, and with a regular IRA, you pay taxes on your withdrawals. When you file your tax return,…
Social Security Remains Open During the Government Shutdown
Social Security remains open during a government shutdown, though some delays are possible. Dana George at The Motley Fool outlines which services are available. With a My Social Security Account, you can apply for benefits, print an income verification letter,…
The Family Max Does Not Affect a Married Couple’s Social Security Benefits
Social Security sets a limit, known as the “family maximum,” on total benefits a family can receive. This limit does not affect a couple’s benefits unless one spouse qualifies for a spousal benefit. Both high-earning spouses can each receive the…
Women Tend to Receive Smaller Social Security Benefits
There are various reasons women tend to earn less in Social Security Benefits. According to the article by Lane Erickson and Mary Johnson, an average women receive $332 less per month. They share some insight on how to avoid some…
Stand alone Part D premiums
As the Medicare open enrollment period approaches, there is good news for Medicare Part D plan enrollees for 2026. According to CMS, although the total number of stand-alone drug plans available in 2026 is expected to decline for the third…