Assessing the Implications of the Full Retirement Age (Hint: It’s not as simple as you think)

Reaching full retirement age (FRA)–the age at which a claimant can receive the full amount of their earned Social Security retirement benefit–was historically thought to be age 65. And it was…at least until the Social Amendments of 1983. A series…

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A Common Sense Approach to Social Security Reform?

In a well-written, somewhat light-hearted, but nonetheless timely and realistic discussion, Stanford Magazine writer Summer Moore Batte summarizes the thinking of two scholars on how to address Social Security’s rapidly approaching financial cliff. In her news.stanford.edu post, Ms. Batte captures…

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Social Security Survivor Benefits – Part 2

Understanding the “Widow Limit”  The “widow limit” rules apply in situations where the higher-earning spouse took their benefits early, such as at the age of sixty-two. When someone takes their retirement benefits at age 62, they receive 75% of their benefit…

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Social Security Survivor Benefits – Part I 

Perched high on the list of questions most frequently asked of the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisor Service is the topic of “survivor benefits.”  The term “survivor benefit” refers to benefits available to the dependent(s) of a deceased person who was either…

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The COLA Adequacy Argument and Retirement

The annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applied to Social Security benefits is intended to maintain at least some degree of financial stability for seniors in their retirement years. Good intention, but does it succeed? Many sources suggest it does not meet…

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“Ask Rusty – Why Didn’t My Friend’s Wife Get All Her SS Immediately?”

Dear Rusty: A friend told me about what he believes is a strange thing in the Social Security system. His wife reached her full retirement age (FRA) of 66 several years ago. She delayed filing for Social Security past her…

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