Latest News
Some good reasons to start Social Security at 62
Nearly everyone knows that 62 is the magic age when you can start your Social Security benefits, and most also know that if you start them earlier your payment will be smaller than if you waited until your full retirement…
Want to know your estimated Social Security? Let SSA.GOV help you
For most of those approaching the magic age of 62 when they’re eligible to start their Social Security benefit, knowing how much that benefit might be under different circumstances will help you figure out the right path to take. Fortunately, Social…
Retirees not always looking for warmth and palm trees
The old conventional wisdom was that when it came time to retire, most would be looking for a place that was nearly always warm with palm trees swaying in the wind. Not so anymore, says this CNBC article by Catherine…
Singles disadvantaged when it comes to Social Security
While many people enjoy the single life, when it comes to arriving at the doorstep of retirement many find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to their Social Security benefit. Over 40% of singles over age 65 depend on…
Identifier or Authenticator? The Social Security number is now both
When the Social Security program was introduced, and for many years thereafter, the Social Security Number (SSN) was a reasonably secure method of identifying participants in the program both for providing benefits and recording payroll contributions. The problem is that the…
Get rid of these three debts before you retire
It pretty much goes without saying that you should strive to keep your expenses in retirement as low as possible. After all, your income will probably be less and you’ll need to rely on your investments to cover whatever your…
Finding your retirement passion, and other questions answered
Will you be doing what you really love to do in retirement? Should you take a Medicare Part D drug plan even though you don’t use many prescription drugs? This Wall Street Journal article by retirement columnist Glenn Ruffenach answers…
Your 2018 COLA increase, and how it might look to you
Quite a bit of fanfare surrounded the announcement last month that Social Security recipients would be getting a 2% raise starting in 2018. Of course any raise is better than none at all, but 2% is pretty low when compared…
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): The basics
Often written about, and sometimes confused with other disability programs, Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI) provides a lifeline to eligible workers who become totally disabled and, as a result, are not able to continue working. It’s not easy to qualify…
Social Security helping disabled veterans
For disable veterans and “wounded warriors”, Social Security has programs to help. With its disability program, Social Security can provide disabled veterans with benefits in addition to their military pay while on active duty, even if they’re hospitalized or on…