Social Security
Fear of Insolvency Driving Many Decisions to Claim Benefits Early
It’s not the only reason folks claim Social Security before full retirement age, but the growing anxiety over the program’s financial future has become a significant factor driving early filing. The Schroders 2025 US Retirement Survey results note that 36%…
A Call for Public Trustees to Help Guide Social Security Reform
The Social Security trustees oversee the financial operations of the Social Security trust funds and report annually to Congress on their financial and actuarial status. They provide detailed information on the solvency of these funds, which is crucial for informing…
EOY Report on Social Security Pledges Stability for Generations to Come
In his end-of-fiscal-year report to Congress on operational improvements implemented at the Social Security Administration, Commissioner Frank Bisignano highlighted the Agency’s transformational work in 2025. His comments also commended SSA staff for their “commitment to defending a program that provides…
Returning to the Workforce in Retirement? Here’s a Common Question
Rejoining the workforce after claiming retirement benefits, as well as claiming benefits while continuing to work, raises an oft-asked question: Will my benefit increase as a result of paying more FICA taxes? That’s the subject of an msn.com article posted…
Ask Rusty – Is Social Security Really a ‘good deal?’
Dear Rusty: You’ve said in the past that most people recoup their SS contributions within five years of starting benefits, thus Social Security “is an exceptionally good deal.” Your calculation is correct but misleading; if it were not, SS would…
More Perspective on the 2026 2.8% COLA
Yes, the 2026 adjustment is more than last year’s increase and, yes, it represents the fifth consecutive year of at least a 2.5 percent increase, something that hasn’t happened in about three decades. But all that aside, how does the…
The 2026 Maximum Social Security Benefit…And How to Obtain It.
After application of the most recent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the Social Security Administration calculates that the maximum monthly benefit in 2026 has reached $5,251. That’s just a tad over $63,000 a year…an attractive retirement supplement in the eyes of many…
CEPR Examines Federal Budget, Comments on Social Security Insolvency Actions
The fiscal future of America is in question, repeatedly, these days. With the National Debt Clock showing the real-time accumulation of public debt at over $38 trillion, there’s quite a bit of consternation in the media over the economic implications…
Re-thinking the COLA Process
Two recent posts in the Social Security section of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) daily Newsline service provided readers with a recap of Social Security’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The articles explained the process for determining the adjustment,…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Be Careful of the Pitfalls
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage these days, with even the U.S. government getting on the bandwagon to try to harness this new and exciting technology. And it is, indeed, exciting, and a convenient method to do research, especially…