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Social Security’s “Ticket to Work” Program – Equity for the Disabled
Social Security administers two separate disability programs – “SSDI” (Social Security Disability Insurance) which is disability insurance for working Americans who become disabled, and “SSI,” (Supplemental Security Income) which is a means-tested assistance program for disabled Americans of any age.…
About Raising Social Security’s Full Retirement Age
Social Security’s full retirement age, referred to as your “FRA,” is the age at which you get 100% of the benefit you’ve earned from a lifetime of working. Claim Social Security before your FRA and your benefit will be smaller;…
Choosing the “Best” Medicare Coverage
Here we are, already well into Medicare’s “Open Enrollment Period” which lasts until December 7th, and now is the time you should take a really good look at your existing coverage or, if you’re not yet enrolled, explore what coverage…
“IRMAA” Causes Bump in Medicare Premium
“IRMAA” is an acronym for “Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount” and it’s sometimes a big surprise for certain Medicare beneficiaries who have a big income bump in a prior year. The catch is that each year’s Medicare Part B (coverage for…
The Different Types of Social Security Benefits
The Social Security website contains over 10,000 pages to fully describe the various twists and turns which may affect your benefits. Workers’ benefits are different from spousal benefits, which are different from survivor benefits, which are different from children’s benefits,…
The Retirement Savings Conundrum
It’s hardly new news, but a recent survey has revealed that many people of all ages feel they aren’t saving enough, or haven’t saved enough, for their future retirement. That has been a fairly consistent survey finding for years, but…
A Historical Perspective on COLA (the Cost of Living Adjustment)
It sure gets a lot of attention in the fall of each year, especially from seniors on Social Security, but many who are affected really have no idea how the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has evolved over the years.…
Should You Claim Social Security at 62?
Actually, more people claim Social Security at age 62 than at any other age, despite the fact that most financial advisors will counsel you to wait longer to get a higher benefit. Indeed, most people (over 85%) already know that…
About Predatory Medicare Advantage Marketing
If you watch TV at all, you cannot have missed the recent barrage of advertisements about Medicare Advantage plans, offering what seems to be almost too-good-to-be-true insurance coverage. The ads make you feel like you’d be neglectful to not call…
Many Don’t Understand How Medicare Works
A recent survey revealed that many American workers do not understand how Medicare, the program they will rely on for healthcare after age 65, actually works. That lack of knowledge can lead to making poor healthcare decisions in retirement which…