Social Security
Thoughts on Avoiding Retirement Mistakes
As you begin to examine Social Security and reflect on the options available to you, it’s important to consider which options might cause you discomfort later in your retired life. Some of these options result in lower monthly benefits, some…
Shoring Up Your Retirement Planning Against Potential Social Security Cuts
A quick review of media offerings these days will tell you that the issue of Social Security’s financial problems is building momentum, along with the possibility of benefit cuts that may affect your eventual participation in the retirement support system.…
Plans to Work Later in Life and Ageism…A Growing Problem?
Senior-oriented media accounts of retirement plans for those approaching that stage of life often suggest that most Americans are likely to remain in the workforce well past becoming eligible for Social Security benefits. A good plan for many folks, given…
Cmr. O’Malley Announces SSI Change to Facilitate Eligibility
Accessing crucial Supplemental Security Income benefits will become simpler, and the Agency’s workload will be streamlined a bit, by a new rule set to kick in later this year. As explained in a March 27 press release, the ruling will…
Outdated Job Data in Disability Claims Processing Cited in Congressional Hearing
Recently confirmed Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley was taken to task at a Joint Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing last week on the Agency’s use of decades-old jobs data in its disability determination processes. In discussing where…
For Future Ex-Patriots Alert: Understanding the Rules for Off-Shore Social Security Payments Is Essential
Social Security beneficiaries electing to live abroad can collect their earned benefits just like their U.S. counterparts. In fact, according to a post by U.S. News and World Report contributor Maryalene LaPonsie, the U.S. Department of State reports that more…
Student Loans and Social Security Penalties Being Examined
The Treasury Offset (TOP) program that allows for the offsetting of Social Security benefits in situations where student loans have defaulted is the subject of an investigation launched earlier this month. As explained in a post by Kiplinger Joey Solitro…
Yet Another Viewpoint on Delaying Retirement
It’s been all over the media in the past few days. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has gone on record with an opinion that the popular notion of retirement age being 65 is crazy. In fact, in a Marshall News Messenger post…
Adjusting the Retirement Age: Extreme or Sensible? One viewpoint.
The debate over how best to address Social Security’s looming catastrophe is raging again. No surprise there, since it’s a presidential election year and that means pretty much any specific suggestion to address the problem acquires polar opposite viewpoints. A…
A Perspective on Social Security’s Customer Service
Much has been written over the past few months and years about public perspectives on the quality of Social Security’s customer service practices. Much of it has been negative, citing the painful wait times associated with the 800-number service, the…