Social Security
Social Security’s Average Monthly Benefit Hits a New Milestone
The month of May is expected to see the average monthly benefit for retired workers reach the $2,000 level for the first time in history. For a quick comparison, the average benefit at the same point in 2015 was $1,363,…
Ask Rusty – I’m a Retired Veteran; Why must I pay for Medicare?
Dear Rusty: I’m a retired Navy veteran who is going to be turning 65 years old this year. My question is concerning mandatory Medicare sign-up requirements. Why do I have to sign up for Medicare coverage at 65 when I…
Carrying Debt Into Retirement…a “Generational Time Bomb”
Noted entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary offers sobering thoughts on a trend emerging in the retirement world: seniors moving into that life phase with a heavy debt load. In a recent post on thestreet.com, O’Leary observes: “Nearly two-thirds of families led by…
Social Security and Garnishment: Taking a Look at the New Rules
The new rules for outstanding student loan debt have changed the landscape for many Social Security beneficiaries. And that’s not a trivial number of folks, since it’s estimated that about 5 million recipients of Social Security benefits have outstanding federal…
An Operational Conundrum…Fraud Detection Measures Slowing Claims Processing
Any efforts to curb fraud within the Social Security system are appropriate to ensure the integrity of benefit payments. Nobody would argue with that except, perhaps, a fraudster or malcontent seeking to “play” the system for illicit gains. But what…
Potential Social Security Cuts
An ideal retirement is having enough money to live comfortably. Many depend on Social Security and have little to nothing else in income. As we edge closer to the Social Security Trust Fund becoming insolvent many are becoming concerned about…
History of HR 82, The Social Security Fairness Act
H.R. 82 was signed into law by President Biden on January 5, 2025. This repealed two Social Security rules known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules were enacted in 1977 and 1983.…
Another change to Social Security Rules
The rules regarding Social Security overpayment have changed again. Until 2024 100% of a recipient’s benefit was held back until the overpayment was recovered. That left some retirees with no income, which was highly criticized. In 2024 the amount was…
Planning for Social Security in your 40’s
When you are in your 40’s Social Security is not the first thing on your mind. You may not even be thinking about retirement yet. There are a few important things about Social Security to hold in the back of…
2026 COLA Predictions
Although the official announcement is months away, we continue to see COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) predictions. Experts started with a prediction of 2.1 % which gradually increased to 2.4% in April. There is some disagreement about how the COLA…