Latest News
Your 2023 Medicare Premium May Be Affected by Your 2021 Income Tax Return
Since we’re right in the middle of income tax season, this article is timely because it explains how your income reported on this year’s tax filing (for the year 2021) may very well affect your Medicare premium next year. In…
Social Security “Continuing Disability” Reviews
This article by the Social Security Administration (SSA) appears at The Pentagraph online publication, and offers insight into how Social Security conducts their “Continuing Disability Review,” a regular procedure the agency uses to obtain updated information on a beneficiary’s medical…
Social Security for Divorced Spouses
A divorced spouse may be eligible for benefits from their ex, depending on whether certain conditions are met. The basic rule is that you must have been married for at least 10 years to be eligible for ex-spouse benefits, but…
The Pros and Cons of Claiming Social Security Early
Age 62 is when you first become eligible to claim Social Security retirement benefits, but whether to do so at that time is a question most of us wrestle with. Reality is that there are good reasons to claim at…
Reopening of Social Security Offices
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Security field offices have been closed to public access, so simply visiting your local office and getting assistance has been impossible. More recently, Social Security did start accepting in-person appointments, but only…
How Your Spouse is Affected By Your Benefit
Social Security isn’t just an individual benefit, especially when it comes to a married couple. There is often a sizable difference between the partners’ personal benefit amounts, and in some cases one spouse may even be ineligible for Social Security…
Social Security Planning: Hints for the Long-Range
If you’ve looked in any depth at Social Security, you’ve most likely come away glazed over after realizing the myriad and complex details that affect your decision points. The program is complex, for sure, so achieving the best arrangements for…
If Your Retirement Plans look to be a little short, here are some things to consider
Anyone looking ahead to their retirement years should be regularly assessing how adequate their financial preparations are. To not do so sets you up for disappointment and pain when you reach that life stage. So, what do you do? There…
Pros and Cons of Putting Off Retirement
For many folks, these are uncertain times. From the pain of inflation and the impact on available cash, to the uncertainty of a potentially lingering pandemic, those aging into the retirement window are wondering just when is the right time…
Taxation of Social Security Benefits…More Thoughts on the Issue
One of the more unpleasant surprises for new retirees, and one of the continuing annoyances for those who have been long-retired, is the simple fact that Social Security benefits can be subject to federal income taxation. And it’s becoming a…