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About Claiming Social Security at 62
Age 62 is the most popular age to claim Social Security. That could be because age 62 is when most beneficiaries first become eligible, or it may be out of financial necessity. There are some good reasons why claiming as…
Social Security for Women
No question about it – women face a more daunting challenge when it comes to retirement, which also means that Social Security benefits for women will play a crucial role. From understanding how Social Security benefits can be reduced, their…
Reopening Social Security Field Offices
In a very welcome announcement, the Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to re-open field offices – which have been closed to the public for two years – for general access starting on April 1st. That is certainly good news for…
Healthcare Costs Too Much? Here’s Help
Medicare, of course, is the nation’s primary healthcare program for nearly 64 million seniors over the age of 65. But there are premiums associated with Medicare, specifically for Medicare Part B, which is coverage for outpatient services, and Part D…
Medicare Advantage and In-Network Services
Medicare Advantage plans – private healthcare plans which replace “original Medicare” Part A and Part B – have increased greatly in popularity. That’s not surprising, considering that most Advantage plans offer additional services, such as coverage for prescription drugs and…
Pandemic Anomaly – Social Security Applications Are Static
As is generally known, the COVID-19 pandemic took a big toll on the American workforce, with many either forced to, or choosing to, leave their employment. Unemployment statistics jumped as the economy struggled to cope with lockdowns and strict rules…
The Best Time to Claim Social Security
Perched atop our list of most frequently asked questions is some variation of this: “When is my ideal time to claim Social Security?” The answer to this superficially simple query is actually very complicated, because so many things – life-expectancy,…
State Income Tax on Social Security Benefits
While no one suggests you change where you live because of it, some U.S. states levy an income tax on retirement income, including Social Security benefits. Fortunately, the list of states which do not tax Social Security benefit is longer…
Living on a Fixed Income
As many beneficiaries are keenly aware, Social Security was never meant to be the sole source of retirement income. Nevertheless, a large percentage of Social Security recipients rely heavily on their monthly Social Security benefit to live, and soaring inflation…
Women Face Retirement Challenges
It’s hardly a secret, but women almost always face a much more challenging retirement landscape than do their male counterparts. According to a recent Transamerica survey, only 33% of women even had a retirement strategy in place, and even fewer…