seniors
The two problems with COLA
The Social Security Administration calculates the COLA by comparing the average of the CPI-W for July, August, and September of the previous year with the average for the same three-month period in the current year. The percentage change is the…
Repealing WEP and GPO…More Legislative Push
In a post on asppa-net.org, the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries provides a recap of actions in two states–Alaska and Louisiana–advocating for repeal of Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) based on the…
Can Annuities help with your Social Security strategy?
There are a myriad of options to consider when deciding to claim Social Security benefits. Eligibility spans eight years, from age 62 to 70. If you want to retire early and delay taking Social Security, how do you fill in…
Members of American Federation of Teachers attend hearing for HR 82 ( Social Security Fairness Act)
The Windfall Eilimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) affect the Social Security benefits of some government workers who are exempt from Social Security Tax. This legislation was meant to help offset the fact that these workers are treated…
Should you delay taking Social Security benefits until 70?
A person who is eligible for Social Security can claim benefits anytime between 62 and 70. If you take it early your benefit will be reduced. If you wait until 70 you will receive the maximum payment. There is a…
Dental coverage, especially important for older Americans, is not covered by Medicare.
Dentists understand the importance of healthy teeth and gums. Despite this, Medicare rarely, if ever covers the cost for these services. The great majority of older Americans are paying out of pocket or not getting basic dental service which could…
Important Guidelines for reducing Scams
Senior citizens are especially vulnerable to scams. To protect yourself from fraud there are general guidelines you can follow. This article is focused on the state of New York and Medicare, but the information is helpful to everyone. Notice: The link…
Many seniors find “un-retiring” is a better option
For many seniors, working a whole career can get stale, causing retirement to look extremely attractive. But about 2 in 5 Americans have found that retirement isn’t all they dreamed it to be, and have returned to work – in…
Want to retire early? Learn about the “FIRE” concept (Financial Independence, Retire Early)
Early retirement is something likely dreamt of by most millennials and members of “Generation Z” but, as many Boomers and Gen Xers have discovered, retiring early is a pretty lofty objective. The FIRE concept (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is an…
Encore Article: Medicare Coverage Options and Open Enrollment
This article was first published last fall but is worthy of this encore re-publication because the topic – Medicare – is one which affects a majority of our readers all year long. Originally published by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation…