Social Security
Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits Only…A Strategy Still Available
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 changed much of the strategic landscape for seniors, specifically with respect to options like “File and Suspend,” the rules for deemed filing, and so on. But one specific filing strategy that remains in effect…
Social Security Joins in the Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
(Source: Social Security Administration) From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. This is when we honor the contributions of Hispanics to American society and celebrate this warm and vibrant culture. According to the U.S. Census Bureau,…
A Good Source of Benefits Information
With a mission of increasing “… citizen access to benefit information, while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government,” the E-Government website Benefits.gov offers an array of information about services available to all citizens. Of particular interest to seniors are six…
The Saga of Social Security’s Worsening Outlook
Brenton Smith, in a post on www.marketwatch.com, takes an in-depth look at the Social Security solvency dilemma, calling to question the premise that all looks well through 2034. Smith’s article describes what he terms “a serious misconception about the data provided…
COLA Watch – 2.8% Looking More Certain, But…
It’s looking more and more like the 2019 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security beneficiaries will land at 2.8%. Yes, that’s the largest since 2012 and yes, it’s 40% higher that the 2018 adjustment. But as MarketWatch reporter Alessandra Malito points…
Delaying Retirement: The Importance of Staying Relevant
Wanting to delay retirement as a strategy to bolster finances for those later years is becoming more and more the norm. But for many, it’s not that easy, given what many see as diminishing opportunities for older workers. “Their bosses…
Strategies for Earliest Retirement
If you’re of the mindset that retiring earliest is best, but your long-range financial projections don’t seem to support it, there are some strategies you might want to consider to achieve your goal. U.S. News & World Report contributor Craig Stephens…
“Suspended Social Security Number” Scam Alert
It sounds much like the process used by credit card companies when you account is determined to be involved in a fraud situation…your account is suspended and you need to contact them for resolution. That’s good for credit cards, but…
Social Security Reform and Widow Benefits
A brief issued this month by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.analyzes the quandary of widow benefits vs. the benefits available to a surviving spouse in a dual-earning situation. As explained in the brief, “a widow from a $100,000…
Social Security’s asset reserves explained
Not since 1982 has Social Security run a deficit (pay more in benefits than is collected in payroll taxes) until 2018. For 35 years, then, asset reserves have built up, as explained by Sean Williams in this Motley Fool article,…