seniors
What to do if you owe taxes
Although Congress and President Trump have pushed to eliminate the federal taxes on Social Security benefits, the tax laws are still on the books. What happens if you owe taxes on your Social Security benefits and cannot pay? Kailey Hagen…
The new “Social Security Fairness Act” increases SS benefits for some government workers.
Congress has debated the issue for decades – ever since the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) were enacted in 1983 (the first version of the GPO was enacted in 1977). These provisions were made law…
Can I get Both SS Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
“SSDI” is Social Security’s Disability Insurance program specifically designed to protect Americans who become disabled and unable to work for at lease one year. “SSI” is a Supplemental Security Income program designed to provide assistance to needy Americans, including those…
Social Security for Children
If you are an older parent of a minor child, you may not be aware that when you claim Social Security benefits your minor child may also be eligible for Social Security benefits. There are, of course, restrictions and the…
Redefining “Retirement” (to include working)
The word “retirement” usually conjures up an image of simply hanging up one’s work boots and living a life of leisure, maybe just lounging in a hammock and reading or, perhaps, traveling to exotic places. But in these days of…
The Importance of your Full Retirement Age to your Social Security retirement benefit
Each year, the Social Security Administration changes some rules affecting your benefits, so knowing the changes goes a long way toward choosing when to claim Social Security. Your “full retirement age” – which is when you get 100% of the…
Can you retire on $80,000 per year?
Not according to Suze Orman, a highly acclaimed and frequently quoted retirement counselor. In this Yahoo! Finance article by Jeannine Mancin, the author quotes Ms. Orman as saying that if you think you can retire on $80,000 per year, “I’ve…
Medicare’s “enrollment periods” explained
Although most people enroll in Medicare during their “Initial Enrollment Period” (IEP), which starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months thereafter, there are other times which you can also sign up for Medicare healthcare…
Not sure your nest egg will support your retirement? Here are some tips to correct that.
Many who are approaching retirement are uncomfortable that their savings and investment (otherwise called their “nest egg”) will be enough to keep them comfortable in retirement. It that is you, and you still have some time to adjust, then this…
“Phased Retirement?” More Aging Workers are considering it!
The old tradition of working for a lifetime and then hanging it up to enjoy one’s “golden years” seems to be fading fast. As life expectancy continues to increase, many seniors find that going from full-time work to 100% idle…