Social Security
Redefining “Retirement” (to include working)
The word “retirement” usually conjures up an image of simply hanging up one’s work boots and living a life of leisure, maybe just lounging in a hammock and reading or, perhaps, traveling to exotic places. But in these days of…
The Importance of your Full Retirement Age to your Social Security retirement benefit
Each year, the Social Security Administration changes some rules affecting your benefits, so knowing the changes goes a long way toward choosing when to claim Social Security. Your “full retirement age” – which is when you get 100% of the…
Reapplying for Lost SS Disability benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are available to those who experience a disability which prevents them from working, but there are fairly stringent rules to qualify for SSDI benefits. Among those rules are: a) the disability must be expected…
Steps for changing your address with Medicare
If you have permanently changed your address, you must update Medicare and Social Security. Especially Medicare Advantage plan members, since moving to a new county or state could affect your coverage. What are the steps for changing your address with…
Was the 2025 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) enough?
Well, almost certainly not, according to Maurie Backman in this Yahoo! Finance article. You see, annual COLA increases are actually “backward looking” – that is, they are based upon inflation which has already occurred, and they may not offset today’s…
Medicare’s “enrollment periods” explained
Although most people enroll in Medicare during their “Initial Enrollment Period” (IEP), which starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months thereafter, there are other times which you can also sign up for Medicare healthcare…
Not sure your nest egg will support your retirement? Here are some tips to correct that.
Many who are approaching retirement are uncomfortable that their savings and investment (otherwise called their “nest egg”) will be enough to keep them comfortable in retirement. It that is you, and you still have some time to adjust, then this…
Political Promises vs. Social Security Reality
During the 2024 election season, we often heard candidates promising that cuts to Social Security were “off the table.” President Trump was among those so promising but, as is already evident, that promise did not extend to cutting waste and…
Ask Rusty – Can I Get Extra Social Security for my Military Service?
Dear Rusty: Please help. I served from 1964 to 1966 in the US Army. I have been trying to contact Social Security in order to request extra benefits for veterans. The telephone is a recording, and you never get to…
Interesting Twist: Social Security Can Free You to Invest More Aggressively
Historically, most investment advisors counsel us to become more conservative in our investment strategy as we approach retirement. Conventional wisdom often suggests changing our investment portfolio from higher-risk stocks to lower risk investments such as the guaranteed returns from the…