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New Medicare Cards, New Security…and New Scams
Roll-out of the new Medicare Identification Cards–the ones without Social Security Numbers–begins in April and will continue throughout the coming year. As you are most likely aware, the format changes were mandated by the passing of the Medicare Access and…
Understanding the “Social Security Administration Representative Payee Program”
A representative payee is someone who is chosen by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help individuals budget and spend the Social Security money. So, if you are receiving monthly Social Security benefits called SSI or SSDI, and the SSA…
Filing for Benefits: The Basic Question
As multimedia journalist Tracy Byrnes point out at the beginning of her post on www.thestreet.com, the first and most basic question you should consider asking yourself is, “Do you really need the check?” Asking this question will help you think through the pros…
Boomers Confident About Retirement Lifestyle, but is it Wishful Thinking?
Citing an NHP Foundation quote pointing to a “disconnect between Baby Boomers’ current financial status and where they perceive themselves in retirement,” a post by PlanAdvisor’s Lee Barney takes a look at a potential disconnect between where those age 50 and older…
Social Security’s Diminishing Ability to Keep Pace
With national health care spending growing at an average rate of 5.5% for the next decade, it’s easy to see why the recent trend in Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)–1.1% average for the past five years–is cause for concern among the System’s…
Some Disability Questions Answered
This post from www.shorelinemedia.net addresses two basic questions pertaining to Social Security’ Disability Income provision: What happens when a disability recipient reaches full retirement age, and the frequency of case reviews. Check it out here… Notice: The link provided above…
Reverse Mortgages and Their Current Use in Retirement Financial Planning
The NerdWallet’s Liz Weston examines the current state of reverse mortgages and the role that they can play in retirement financial planning following recent changes in the law. Whether it’s portfolio protection, debt reduction, or supplemental income, changes mandated by…
Social Security’s Basic 2018 Changes Recapped
In a post on www.financial-planning.com, columnists Kimberly Foss and Amanda Schiavo examine five of the basic changes implemented in Social Security for 2018. The changes range from the COLA adjustment to the changes in earnings limits and maximum benefit payouts, and include the changes…
Student Loans and Social Security: New Legislation Introduced
Www.plansponsor.com’s Rebecca Moore takes a look at H.R. 1937: Student Security Act of 2017, introduced last year with an objective of providing “loan forgiveness to borrowers of Federal student loans who agree to delay eligibility to collect Social Security benefits, and…
Tax Planning, Social Security, and Retirement Planning: A Primer for the Savvy Widow
For widows (and widowers, for that matter) wrestling with the decision on when to retire, it’s a good idea to think strategically and weigh a variety op options before taking the plunge. For example, understanding the benefits of working longer than…