Social Security
One month to 2026 COLA is announced
The 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment is expected to be announced on October 15th by the Social Security Administration; however, this has not stopped industry experts from predicting the amount of the increase. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) predicts that the 2026…
Maxing out your Social Security benefits
Do you want the maximum Social Security benefit in 2026? While we do not yet know the exact maximum benefit for 2026, we are aware of the steps required to achieve it. Christy Bieber, writing for The Motley Fool, explains…
The SSA’s Office of Congressional Affairs
When a congressional representative is working on resolving an issue involving Social Security for one of their constituents, they contact the SSA’s Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs. This office provides technical assistance to lawmaker offices when developing Social Security…
What to expect from Social Security
The headlines about Social Security insolvency are scary to most Americans. According to a recent survey from NerdWallet, “36 percent of Americans under age 65 don’t think that Social Security will be available to them by the time they retire.”…
Three ways to help bridge the gap
Could you survive if your monthly Social Security check were cut by 19 percent? Or even more? As mentioned in the previous article, “Approximately 67 percent of seniors rely on Social Security for more than half of their income, with…
Retirees are over-relying on Social Security
Approximately 67 percent of seniors rely on Social Security for more than half of their income, with 27 percent entirely dependent on it for their financial needs. A recent survey echoes this statement. The survey results were not entirely surprising;…
Social Security will stop paper checks soon
Effective September 30th, the Social Security Administration will discontinue issuing paper checks and switch to digital payments. Although fewer than one percent of the 74 million Americans currently receive benefits by check, this change will impact about 750,000 people. What…
Demystifying Social Security Spouse Benefits
Among Social Security’s myriad regulations, few topics are more misunderstood than spouse benefits. Terminology is important here – “spouse benefits” in Social Security (SS) parlance refers to benefits one spouse can collect from the other’s record while both spouses are…
Ask Rusty – I’d like to retire early, but don’t want my Social Security reduced
Dear Rusty: I will be 65 this year and my husband is 72 (he retired in 2019 at age 66). I would like to retire and enjoy some time with him before he gets too much older. I do not…
Living on Social Security…How Much is Enough?
With an estimated three-quarters of the senior population reportedly prioritizing Social Security benefits over pensions and personal savings in their retirement plans, it becomes critical to assess the adequacy of this benefit before making a decision. There are a few…