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Retirement planning: don’t settle for just the money aspects
All too often, retirement planning focuses only on two things – how much you have saved and how long you will live. There’s no doubt that those are important, but planning for how much money you’ll need should take into account…
Save your Social Security card; you’ll need it for “RealID”
In a somewhat tongue in cheek narration of his visit to the Motor Vehicle to obtain a “RealID” license, reporter Dennis Dalman describes how not having his Social Security card on hand meant her couldn’t get that special “RealID” drivers…
A special option for those born before 1954
Almost all of those approaching Social Security age understand that a worker gets benefits on their own work record, and a lower earning spouse can often get additional spousal benefits added on top of their own. Of course there are conditions for…
The 3 most reviled Social Security rules
Few would argue that Social Security isn’t America’s most important entitlement program (you paid into it, thus you’re entitled to it). And although the program is astonishingly complex with over 2700 different rules and regulations, there are 3 rules reviled by…
America’s retirement crisis is real
We hear a lot about America’s “retirement crisis” – so much so that it sometimes seems to be hyperbole. But not so, according to financial guru Frank Holmes. As per his comments in this Forbes article, America’s retirement crisis is…
The big healthcare cost that Medicare doesn’t cover
Most people on Medicare know that it doesn’t cover everything, and there are also deductibles for both Part A and B. But one big thing that Medicare doesn’t cover is dental care, which eats deeply into the wallets of a…
Social Security issues warning about phone scams
The problem of criminals posing as Social Security agents calling unsuspecting seniors has grown in sufficient proportions that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is making a public service announcement. The announcement, to be made on national TV and radio stations…
Candidate wants to give Social Security to illegal aliens
In a somewhat bizarre reversal of her previous stance, and perhaps in a thinly veiled example of a politician’s propensity to say anything to get elected, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand – the latest entry into the Democratic presidential candidate pool – called for…
Where you live affects how far Social Security will go
Of course, the actual amount of everyone’s Social Security benefit is different, but the “average beneficiary” receives $1464 per month in benefits (about $16,133 per year). Depending upon where you live, that amount could be enough to sustain you, or…
Applying for disability? Careful what you post on Social Media
As anyone who has applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can attest, the whole process can be daunting, especially if the initial application is denied and the applicant appeals. In an effort to reduced fraudulent SSDI claims, the…