Latest News
“Scrapping the Cap”–Who Would it Affect?
The two most recent proposals to revamp Social Security both target the cap on taxable earnings. John Larson’s Social Security 2100 Act calls for a resumption of taxation when annual income levels pass the $400,000 level, while Bernie Sanders’ bill…
Thinking About Retirement – Thoughts to Help Get Ready Financially
For those in their 50s, t houghts of retirement are probably popping up more and more as each year passes. And one of the more frequent of these thoughts relates to how financial prepared you might be to take the…
Social Security Payment Schedules
The subject of “when to expect Social Security payments” is one of the more frequent concerns expressed by visitors to our Social Security Report website, especially around the holiday seasons. This article by Rachel Hartman, U.S. News contributor, sets forth the “official”…
The Reasons Why Americans Don’t Save
The likelihood of a retirement crisis int he form of future retirees entering this life phase with insufficient financial resources is a debated issue, but whether you believe it or not, it’s clear to most folks that the rate of…
Stolen Social Security Numbers — The Implications
We all worry–and rightly so–about the continually reported security beaches that spew personal information out into the hands of scammers, fraudsters, and various criminal elements. But beyond worrying, it;s also good to know exactly what these perpetrators can do with…
Oh, the things that can go wrong!
It might seem bizarre, and it might sound like too far ridiculous to be true, but this strange account of the trail of woe faced by an 81-year old California widow in the wake of an error by the Social Security Administration is…
Urban Institute Gearing Up to Explore Social Security 2100 Act
Urban Institute’s Senior Fellow Richard Johnson and Research Associate Damir Cosic yesterday announced plans to launch detailed examinations into the recently-proposed Social Security 2100 Act. Using their micosimulation tool “DYNASIM” they plan to examine how the bill would shift the distribution of…
No, Your Social Security Number is Not Expiring!
One of the recurring scams these days is an unsolicited call from someone purporting to represent the Social Security Administration advising you that your Social Security Number is expiring or being revoked. The caller then asks for identifying information to…
An Overview of Survivor Benefits
For folks concerned about doing well-rounded estate planning, it becomes critically important to fully understand spousal benefits and survivor benefits. and how decisions can impact them. Seeking Alpha contributor Bruce Miller takes a fairly detailed look at these benefit provisions, and…
Your Social Security Benefit Can Grow After Retirement
OK…you’ve bitten the bullet and made your Social Security decision. It’s good to know that the monthly benefit amount you’ve settled on will not be permanent and that it can in fact grow. An article by Social Security representative Erin Thompson explains…