Latest News
Cost of living adjustment for 2021 gives bumps of $20 per month
Evie Fordham of Fox Business News notes almost 70 million Americans will be able to take advantage of a Social Security 2021 cost-of-living increase of 1.3%. That translates to an average increase of $240 for the year, or $20 per month. That takes an estimated average monthly benefit of $1,523 per month to…
WEP & GPO Dilemma
Much has been written for decades about whether the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Offset Proviso (GPO) are fair. Both reduce some public employee pensions, specifically affecting those who had some time in the Social Security system but usually many…
3 Social Security Blunders That Could Cost You More Than $100k
Christy Bieber notes Social Security will pay more than a trillion dollars in benefits to around 65 million Americans in 2020. She cautions to avoid these three big blunders that could come at a cost of more than $100,000. The first is…
4 Reasons 2021 May Be a Great Year to Retire
When to retire is a personal decision but should be informed so as to not create remorse later. Maurie Backman admits she thought 2021 might be a terrible time to retire in a column last week but updated it to…
Some Can Collect Social Security Benefits Even if They’ve Never Worked
While Social Security retirement benefits are generally available only to those with at least ten years of work experience, there are a few situations where one could be eligible for benefits, even if he/she has never worked. Katie Brockman covers…
Ready to claim in 2021?
Katie Brockman notes a few important things to consider if one is thinking about starting Social Security retirement benefits this year. She explains that choosing the right age may be most important. Monthly check amounts increase for each month delayed beyond…
One More Plug for Eliminating the Social Security Tax Cap
It’s not a new thought, but it is one that keeps coming up. And it’s one that will get a lot of attention when (if?) the issue of Social Security Reform gets its much=needed attention in the 117th Congress. Of,…
Clearing up some details on Stimulus checks and SSI, SSDI
The payments are coming–in fact, some may already have seen them arrive–but the details are still evolving. CNET’s Alison DeNisco Rayome and Shelby Brownin a post on cnet.com, take a look at several of the pertinent details surrounding the eligibility rules for…
Social Security and Divorce: It’s IMportant to Know the Rules
One set of year-end statistics I was just reading recapped the domestic situation in America, noting that weddings outnumbered divorces 2.6 to 1 in 2020. That’s good, I suppose, but the sheer number of divorces in 2020–reported to be close…
Retirement Saving – A Never Ending Discussion Topic
If you’re in the New Year’s mindset and thinking ahead to a resolution to save more for the retirement milestone hurtling toward you, you might want to listen to this “Retirement Coffee Talk” session from George Fossing and Zach Jenkins of…