Latest News
How do survivor benefits work?
In this Cincinnati.com “Simply Money” article by Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner, the authors tackle a question from a reader about Social Security survivor’s benefits, also known as “widow’s benefits.” The article explains the basic parameters for when survivor benefits are…
America’s retirement crisis: Is it as gruesome as reported?
Listening to those endowed with so-called “conventional wisdom” one would think that the retirement outlook for future American seniors is bleak, as is often reported in various media outlets. But, in a report which takes an opposite position, The Urban Institute suggests that the continuing…
Survivors & life expectancy important when deciding when to claim Social Security
Deciding when to claim your Social Security benefits can be a frustrating exercise, largely because there are so many options. There’s actually an 8 year window – from age 62 to age 70 – during which you can claim, and…
Social Security scams – A sad true story
With the recent data breach at Capital One, on top of all the others we’ve heard about over the past year, the number of people receiving scam phone calls about their Social Security number has increased exponentially, and more people…
Debunking some myths about Social Security
With a program so large (over 63 million beneficiaries) and so complex (over 2700 rules and regulations), it’s no wonder that myths about the Social Security program abound. Some seem to be amazingly persistent despite efforts by many, including The…
Want the maximum Social Security benefit? Here’s how to get it
Of course everyone would like to get the maximum Social Security benefit, but the road to achieving that isn’t quite so easy. The amount of your Social Security benefit is equally influenced by the age at which you claim it and…
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) – back in the spot light
Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) was enacted in 1983 as part of broader legislation to restore program solvency. WEP reduces Social Security benefits for anyone who also has a pension from an employer who did not participate in the…
A new wave of Social Security scams coming?
Here we go again. With the announcement last week that about 140,000 Social Security numbers may have been compromised by a data breach at industry giant Capital One, the Social Security Administration is warning that a new wave of scams…
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, defined
In this informative article by the Social Security Administration’s Council Bluffs (IA) District Manager Judy Franklin, the author provides some insight into how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits work, focusing on the fact that SSDI doesn’t apply to short term…
Will Social Security go bust?
There is much conversation circulating on social media as well as in magazines and news articles about Social Security’s financial woes, sometimes saying that Social Security is headed for either bankruptcy or insolvency. Especially on social media, but also often…