Social Security
Ask Rusty – Will my WEP Reduction Go Away if I Continue Working?
Dear Rusty: I’m 63 years old and have not yet started my Social Security. I now work for the State of Illinois and will draw a pension from that state’s university system. I don’t pay into Social Security from this…
H.R. 5779 – Fiscal Commission Act
A Plea for Understanding the Commission’s Mission Four key proponents of a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission within Congress to identify and report on policy recommendations to improve the long-term fiscal condition of the federal government recently issued an op-ed piece intended…
Who Can You Call with Questions About Social Security and Medicare?
Social Security and Medicare are, inarguably, the two most important senior benefit programs in our nation, but they are also both exceedingly complex and difficult for the uninformed to navigate. This excellent article by Hillary Hatch, appearing at Michigan’s Pioneer…
Times are tough!! Take Advantage of these Savings Tips
Times are, indeed, tough for many Americans, with inflation still inexorably nudging the price of everything we buy even further up. But, there are still opportunities out there to save – as explained in this Yahoo! Finance article by Andrew…
Will the Annual COLA Increase Ever Be Enough?
All Social Security recipients received a historically high 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2023, yet a recent survey found that over half felt that wasn’t enough. And this year’s 3.2% COLA will likely receive the same reception from…
Enemy of Social Security Reform? Public Apathy
Despite all the media warnings about Social Security solvency and possible across-the-board benefit cuts in about a decade, a recent Gallup poll suggests that 53% of Americans still think they’ll get everything they’re entitled to when it comes time for…
Must I Pay Income Tax on Social Security Disability Benefits?
As with most Social Security questions, the answer is “it depends.” Social Security has an earnings test which affects anyone who is collecting Social Security benefits before they have reached their full retirement age, and that includes those collecting Social…
Allow “Phasing In” Social Security Benefits?
In this interesting opinion piece, one erudite expert suggests that Social Security should offer an option to allow phasing into retirement. This would be done by permitting one to first collect only a portion of their Social Security benefit early,…
Will Your Social Security be Taxable?
In response to threatened revenue shortfall for Social Security in 1983, Congress enacted a law which required those with incomes over particular thresholds to pay income tax on half of their Social Security benefits. The thresholds set in 1983 were…
When Should you Claim Social Security?
There’s no single answer to that question, but there is one very important factor which is crucial for you to know when deciding, and that is your full retirement age (FRA). You FRA varies depending on the year you were…