Latest News
The Best Reason to Take Social Security Long Before Age 70
The literature often seems near unanimous on Social Security– wait as long as possible, even until age 70, to start benefits in order to maximize them for life. But as Katie Brockman reports here there’s one key reason you should consider…
How to Find Out How Much You’ll Get From Social Security at 62
Claim benefits at age 62 and forget about it. That’s what Americans seem to believe despite articles and advice that shows claiming then or at any age before full retirement age (now 67 for most) results in a permanent lifetime cut…
Should You Delay Retirement Due to the Pandemic?
According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2020 Planning & Progress Study 20% of adults aged 18 and over now plan to delay retirement because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Maurie Backman explains the study and whether it is right for you. The answer depends on…
Declining Faith in Social Security and Medicare
Paul Brandus of MarketWatch reports results of a study by MedicareAdvantage.com. More than 1,000 adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. were surveyed. Key findings include: 1) ‘70% believe Social Security benefits will be cut or even eliminated by the time they retire’; 2)…
3 Mistakes That Could Sabotage Your Social Security Benefits
Katie Brockman notes three blunders that should be avoided when it comes to Social Security. According to a survey by the Nationwide Retirement Institute about 20% of baby boomers say Social Security benefits will be their only income source in…
Social Security Myths to Leave Behind With 2020
In a year most would soon like to forget, Maurie Backman adds three misconceptions about Social Security that should also be relegated to history. These are: 1. Social Security will replace your former paycheck; 2. You have to sign up for…
Social Security’s Maximum Benefit…And You
The 2021 maximum benefit available from Social Security stands at $3,895/month, or $46,740 a year. But don’t get too excited…only a very, very few actually receive this benefit amount. I fact, the average amount collected is roughly $1,500/month, a far…
A Review of Some Basics
There’s no doubt the Social Security can be confusing, so for those aging into the program, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the rules that govern some of the basic areas. IN a post on forextv.com, several of these…
Social Security Benefit Verification Letter Now Available Online
When applying for a loan, public assistance, or any other transaction which requires you to prove how much your income is, Social Security’s Benefit Verification Letter has been available for quite some time. But now, this important document has been…
Virtual Appeal Hearings Now The Norm
Everyone has read about, or personally experienced, how long it takes to get an independent hearing by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to adjudicate Social Security appeals. In some cases, it could take months or even years to get a…