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Scary Headlines that Create Social Security Angst
We’re still more than two months away from Halloween. Still, we’ve seen some media articles with headlines that, if not carefully read, tend to create apprehension in the minds of Social Security beneficiaries. For example, this headline from several days ago, “Four Ways You Can Lose Your Social Security Benefits” jumps out at you and puts you on edge, especially since so much of the media rhetoric these days casts doubt on the program’s long-term viability.
A careful read of the article (access it here) beneath the headline should put most people at ease, since it deals with basics like the Social Security earnings test, income and resource limits associated with disability and Supplemental Security Insurance, the impact of divorce situations, continuity of benefits during incarceration, and the like. And even though these areas are fundamental, many folks may not be totally aware of the potential for impact on their income stream in retirement. That’s where the AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service can help you. This service features a staff of trained and certified Advisors standing by to help you navigate the whitewater around this complex program, and it’s offered free of charge to the public. Learn more about this service and how to access it via the AMAC Foundation website.
This article states “…income and resource limits associated with disability and Supplemental Security Insurance”. However, unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) do not have any resource limits. In addition, SSDI does not have any unearned income limits but does have earned income limits. For SSI, because it is a needs based program, certain resource and income limits do apply.
Brian:
Thanks for your comments, and thanks for calling into question the phrase on “resource limits” relative to SSDI. The sentence as written was not meant to imply that such limits were in place for SSDI; rather, the point was that the referenced article would address SSDI and SSI as programs, with the subject of “income limits” and “resource limits” noted where applicable. Perhaps a better way to characterize this would be to say, “…earnings limits associated with SSDI and income/resource limits applicable to SSI.” I agree that phrasing this point collectively could cause a misinterpretation, although the linked article would clear this up.
Thanks again for the comment.
Gerry Hafer
AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisor
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