Social Security
2025 saw lowest inflation in 5 years, but seniors are still struggling!
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the government’s watchdog for inflation, and BLS recently announced that the 2025 actual inflation rate was 2.7% – the lowest since the year 2020. Lower inflation is, of course, a good sign,…
“IRMAA” may make you pay more for Medicare this year
“IRMAA” is an acronym for the “Income -Related Monthly Adjustment Amount” – a somewhat obscure Medicare rule which catches many seniors by surprise. IRMAA affects those who are on Medicare and who have a higher taxable income from two years…
The wisdom (or not) of delaying Social Security
Most retirement planners will tell you that you can get a much higher monthly benefit by waiting longer to claim your Social Security. But some advisors do actually suggest claiming earlier to get the SS money sooner, for several reasons.…
What you need to know about 2026 Social Security changes
Social Security is an ever-changing program and, for the most part, that is a good thing. For example, the program changes annually to accommodate inflation via COLA (cost of living adjustments). But other Social Security factors also change, some of…
About Social Security Solvency
in this article by Jeffery Snyder appearing at The Street, the author interviews a well known expert on Social Security matters, Andrew G. Biggs. Mr. Biggs is a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a former executive with the…
How to increase your Social Security payment
Among the many thousands who contact the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisor Service annually, very few have ever said that their monthly Social Security payment is enough. In fact, most seek ways to maximize their monthly benefit payments, either before…
Does Social Security cover 40% of retirement expenses?
As we have explained many times at the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service, Social Security was never meant to provide 100% of retirement income. In fact, it was intentionally designed to replace only about 40% (or less) of each…
Imagine No Social Security
In 1971, the iconic songwriter John Lennon penned the lyrics to his famous song “Imagine,” asking us to picture a world in total peace and harmony. Although it was a call to imagine what life would be like in a…
Can You Live on Social Security Alone?
Social Security benefits were meant to bolster existing retirement savings and pensions — not to make up for a non-existent nest egg.” And that mantra is one that we frequently emphasize here at the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service.…
When are most people claiming Social Security?
When do most Americans claim their Social Security benefit? That’s an interesting question, but the answer should form the basis of when you personally claim your SS benefits, because everyone’s situation is different. Although it might be interesting to know…