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5 Ways to Apply for Social Security Benefits Online
(Source: Social Security Administration) We continue to make it easier for you to access our programs and benefits. Our website offers a convenient way to apply for benefits online. You can apply online for: Retirement or Spouse’s Benefits – You must…
Retiring at Age 62 Appears to Still be the Norm
CNBC’s Lorie Konish, in a post on their website, reports on Natixis’ Center for Investor Insight comments that the worldwide expected retirement age is 62. That conclusion was drawn from respondents to the The 2021 Global Retirement Index study–see today’s Headline post–and…
Stock Sales and Their Impact on Social Security Benefits
It can sometimes be confusing, and so many folks have questions about what impact the sale of securities could have on their Social Security benefits. NJMoneyHelp.com’s Karin Price Mueller, in a post on lehighvalleylive.com clarifies the situation by explaining that securities transactions,…
COLA Watch 2022: Looking at the Potential Bump in Dollars
For the past several weeks, the airwaves have been peppered with projections of the largest Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in about 40 years. Whether you look at that as good news or bad news, the fact remains that a substantial…
Another Reason to Defer Filing for Benefits
Inflation can be a bad thing on many fronts but, believe it or not, it can have a beneficial impact on one’s eventual Social Security benefit says Rate.com’s Carla Fried in a post today on Bakersfield.com (CA). “Every year between age…
The Question of SSA Field Office Availability
Despite mounting pressure from Congress, Social Security’s field office are continuing their policy of disallowing walk-ins. Although in-person appointments are available–but limited to “critical situations”–there seems to be a mounting level of frustration in the eyes of the general public.…
Attention Veterans: Medicare Advantage Changes Coming
An article posted today on the Kern Valley Sun (Lake Isabella, CA) website provides a brief summary of Medicare changes that provide opportunities for Veterans to take advantage of Medicare Advantage plan provisions previously not available to them. “The plans…
Understanding Full Retirement Age…and What it Means to Your Monthly Benefit
One of the key factors that needs to be given full consideration in retirement planning is one’s full retirement age (FRA). While it’s generally known that filing before one’s FRA will give you reduced benefits potentially for a greater number…
COLA Watch 2022: Inflation Eased a Bit in August, But Still Points to a High 2022 Adjustment
Wall Street Journal reporter Gwynn Guilford, in an article posted on their website, notes that inflation has cooled slightly in August, but added that that may simply be a “head fake” with respect to CPI statistics for the coming months. What…
Social Security 101–Some Bssic Terminology
Many of the articles we re-post on this site (and some that we create ourselves) often include acronyms and terms that tend to be very basic to Social Security, and often the mistake is made that it is assumed everyone…