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Social Security for Married Couples
The considerations for deciding when to claim Social Security are different for married couples; after all, there are two people whose benefits are on the line. Making a claiming decision in a vacuum without fully understanding how that decision might…
What is the best age to claim Social Security?
It’s a very common question pondered by nearly everyone approaching eligibility for Social Security: when should I claim my benefits? Although the answer is never a simple one, the one piece of information available to help you decide is right in…
“Processing error” by Social Security affects 250,000 Medicare clients
In a glitch which has not been completely explained, Social Security experienced what they refer to as a “processing error” in January, which left about a quarter of a million Medicare Part C Advantage plans with unpaid premiums. Many beneficiaries have…
It’s never too early to begin planning for retirement
Planning for retirement takes decades. As Kailey Fralick reports here, everyone regardless of age should take these three steps. First is creating a retirement plan, which includes estimating both life expectancy and living expenses. Fralick details how to do this with estimating…
Retirement more difficult than many imagine
Katie Brockman of The Motley Fool cites two alarming statistics. One is a study in the Journal of Population Ageing that found those who were retired were about twice as likely to report feeling symptoms of depression than those who were still working. …
Boost Your Social Security Benefits for Life
Articles abound on how to get the most of and how to maximize Social Security. Mauire Backman says extend your career, meaning it’s important to have a full 35 years of earnings history, as that is how one’s benefit is…
Using a Life Expectancy Calculator with a Retirement Plan
Kailey Fralick’s piece here notes one of the most difficult parts of planning for retirement is estimating how long you’re going to live. She explains the dangers of underestimating your life expectancy and how to adjust your retirement plan accordingly. …
Losing Social Security benefits to the tax man is likely inevitable
The age when one starts to claim Social Security benefits along with one’s lifetime earnings are main determinants of monthly Social Security income, and this can be planned for by creating an on-line account with the Social Security Administration. However, income…
Working While Receiving Social Security
Those that have not reached full retirement age and are collecting Social Security benefits are subject to an earnings limit of $1,470 per month or $17,640 per year in 2019. Once you have reached your full retirement age, there is no limit on how…
Social Security and paid parental leave explained
Social Security’s long term financial health is in peril without congressional reform. Some might find it curious then that lawmakers, including GOP Senators Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney, and Joni Ernst are lobbying for a paid-leave plan, which would allow working parents…