Social Security
Check Your Social Security Earnings Record Every Year
It is essential to review your Social Security earnings record annually. Your Social Security benefit amount is based on your 35 highest-earning years. Social Security averages your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate your monthly benefit, so it is…
Didn’t Get Your Social Security Payment? Now what?
There are various reasons you may not have received your Social Security payment when you expected it. The date is one of them. Payments go out based on the date of your birthday, or your spouse’s birthday if you are…
You may still qualify for Social Security without earning the required 40 credits.
To qualify for retirement benefits on your own Social Security record, you must earn at least 40 credits. On average, it only takes 10 years to earn enough credits. You can earn up to four credits each year. In 2025,…
Are you 65 or older? There is a new tax break for you on your 2025 Tax Return.
Your Social Security Benefits may still be taxable on your 2025 tax return. However, there is a new $6,000 additional standard deduction available to people 65 or older, which was included in the Big Beautiful Bill. You may claim this…
Social Security Changes in 2026
You will see your monthly Social Security payments increase by 2.8% due to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). However, you need to factor in that the cost of Medicare Part B has increased to $202.90 for 2026, up from $185 in…
When should I claim my Social Security?
The Social Security advisors get asked this question at the AMAC Foundation every day. This is one question we cannot answer for you, as it is a personal decision only you can make. If you are married, it is important…
Your Social Security May Be Garnished for Delinquent Student Loans
The Federal Government can withhold up to 15% of your monthly Social Security benefit if you are delinquent on a Federal Student Loan, but your benefit cannot be reduced below $750 per month. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau…
The Secure 2.0 Act Made Changes to RMDs and Roth 401(k)s Withdrawals
The primary goal of the Secure 2.0 Act is to encourage more people to save for retirement. Some of the primary changes were that the mandatory age for RMD withdrawals has increased, penalties for late withdrawals have been reduced, and…
Do You Know Your Full Retirement Age for Social Security?
Knowing your full retirement age (FRA) is a very important part of your retirement plan. If you take your Social Security benefits before your FRA, you reduce the amount of your payment for the rest of your life. In an…
The Highest Social Security Benefit You Can Receive in 2026
Social Security benefits are calculated using your 35 highest-earning years. To receive the maximum possible benefit, you must reach the maximum taxable earnings in each of those years, something most workers do not achieve. For 2025, the maximum taxable earnings…