Social Security
Not the time to expand Social Security given its finances
In this article by Watchdog, Bethany Blankley criticizes The Social Security 2100 Act as proposed by Rep. John Larson (D-CT) as the wrong time to expand Social Security benefits to the wealthiest demographic group at the expense of raising taxes…
Retirement Reforms Could be a Reality in This Congress
The House Ways and Means Committee under the chairmanship of Richard Neal (D-MA) seems poised to tackle issues like Social Security solvency and other retirement issues this session. Indeed, one hearing on the topic has already been held this month.…
Ask Rusty – Spousal Benefits and Enrolling in Medicare
Dear Rusty : I will be 65 In March. Husband will be 61 In August. If I started collecting Social Security now would I only be able to collect on myself? My husband plans on collecting at 62. Will I…
What to do if you claimed Social Security too early
People generally are aware that waiting to collect Social Security past age 62 raises one’s monthly checks permanently. Yet most people elect to begin receiving checks at or close to age 62. But what if you decide that you made…
A Primer on Social Security Survivor Benefits
Social Security is most well known for the retirement benefits that one collects as long as one contributed by working ten years in a lifetime. But survivor benefits are a less well known and even less well understood part of…
Taking Benefits at 62? Three reasons this may make sense.
Age 62 is the earliest one can apply for Social Security retirement benefits, and data shows that most people do start them at or around that age. The literature is ripe with reasons to delay benefits, chief among them to…
Will my Social Security benefits start automatically?
No, is the short answer to Social Security benefits starting automatically. A person must sign up, mainly because there is no magic, single age to start them. As long as you have 10 years (40 quarters) of work history, you…
Better to plan for Social Security’s 2034 crisis now
The year 2034 is reported in any article explaining the financial problems facing Social Security. That is when benefit payments will be cut automatically by about 21% unless Congress passes reform before then. The amount sent to beneficiaries in 2018…
Social Security & the rest of one’s nest egg
Over 62 million people are receiving monthly Social Security benefits in 2019. This informative piece by TD Ameritrade explains the very basics of Social Security and how individuals can maximize their benefits. It also explains how Social Security might fit…
The Continued Ignoring of Social Security’s Problems
The Oklahoman Editorial Board writes here that both parties continue ignoring any changes to Social Security, despite the program facing partial insolvency by 2034. Morgan Stanley’s December report suggested that faster growth should delay Social Security’s insolvency “perhaps by decades.”…