Social Security
Is Means-testing the cure for what ails Social Security?
Whether folks know it or not, the Social Security and Medicare programs already have progressivity built into their systems. Thus they are means-tested, but only to a degree. Maurie Backman defines means-testing as “the concept of assessing Social Security beneficiaries’…
Millennials won’t rely on Social Security. That’s probably a good thing.
Megan Leonhardt of CNBC reports the findings of recent studies showing that Millennials (born between 1981 and 1997) are not planning to rely on Social Security to fund their retirements. If only all generations thought that way. Social Security is…
10 Ways COVID-19 Will Affect Social Security
The current pandemic is more than just a physical threat to public health. It is a financial threat to the nation’s most important public program–Social Security. Sean Williams notes ten ways that the crisis will hurt the program. Most notably,…
The Payroll Tax Cut Idea, Again
President Donald Trump has again come out in favor of a payroll tax cut to “ … help the American economy to continue to recover from the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 virus.” And once again, the debate on the…
The Social Security Solvency Dilemma: One View of a “Surefire” Fix?
Social Security’s long-term financing woes are garnering increased attention again, with the economic devastation accompanying the COVID-19 pandemic providing more fuel to the fire. While the most recent report by the Social Security Board of Trustees reiterated the 2035 end-date…
The Duties of a Representative Payee
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Marilenin Vasquez, in a post on patch.com, discusses the role of a Representative Payee in helping seniors manage their Social Security benefits. Her post begins with an outline of Social Security’s process for helping to…
Investment Protection from Social Security
The Social Security Administration’s Erin Thompson in an article posted today on the News-Herald , outlines the SSA’s stance on fraud and the steps the agency takes to protect beneficiaries from the attacks of scammers, imposters, and the like. The…
The National Debt and Social Security’s Inherent Role
The Bryan (Ohio) Times today carries an article outlining the conceptual pitfalls of the rapidly escalating U.S. national debt and, although it contains some incorrect assumptions (e.g., the comment implying that the Social Security trust fund tends to “take in…
Social Security Reform Called for in Letter to House
The Fiscal Times reports that a bipartisan group of lawmakers is advocating for any future pandemic relief measures to include focus on national debt problems, including Social Security’s long-term trust fund solvency issues. In a post by Editor in Chief…
Details on Supplemental Security Income and How to Qualify
Over 8 million people received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from Social Security in April, with 28.5% of them age 65 or older. If you are wondering about your individual eligibility, check out this Patch.com article by Social Security’s Delia…