Social Security
Fallout from the Flurry of Social Security Changes
A sign of the times, perhaps…the Google search term “how to claim Social Security” is reported to have recently reached an all-time high. MSNBC’s newsletter editor Ryan Teague Beckwith equates this statistical happening with what appears to be a growing…
May 5 is Approaching Rapidly…Here’s an Update on the Student Loan Outstanding Debt Collection Process
For more than 5 million student loan borrowers in default, and another 4 million late in their payments, the May 5 resumption of forced collections is likely to cause a massive financial upheaval. Newsweek’s Aliss Higham, in a post today…
An Update on President Trump’s Social Security Clean-up Progress
There’s a lot going on in Social Security these days (that’s a bit of an understatement, perhaps), but most of the news focuses on the DOGE efforts to root out the waste and fraud in this massive senior benefit program.…
A plea for legislators for solve to Social Security’s financial problems.
It’s not just the old folks who are expressing their concerns over Social Security’s steadily–and rapidly–deteriorating financial condition. An article appearing today in The Fordham Ram, Fordham University’s student-run newspaper, offers an insightful opinion piece by student and contributing writer…
Taxation of Social Security Benefits…Some Background on the issue
In 1983, as part of the Social Security Amendments passed to avert a solvency crisis, Congress required all retirees to pay income taxes on 50% of their benefits if their incomes reached a minimum threshold.[1] The 1983 decision, however, did…
Data breaches continue to be common news. You can take steps to protect yourself!
In 2024, the United States reported 3,158 data compromise cases. Meanwhile, over 1.35 billion individuals were affected globally in the same year by data compromises, including data breaches, leakage, and exposure. While these are three distinct events, they share a commonality. In…
New Changes Going on at the SSA to Protect You
The Trump Administration is hard at work reducing waste, fraud, and abuse within the Social Security Administration (SSA). They are working on improving payment accuracy, usually caused by underreporting of earnings by people working and receiving early retirement benefits. SSA…
Divorced Spouse Social Security Benefits
As a divorced spouse, if you were married at least 10 years, you are eligible for a spousal benefit based on your ex-spouse’s record if you meet the other requirements. Even if your ex-spouse has remarried, if you are single,…
Unpaid Student Loans Can Be Deducted from Social Security Benefits.
Beginning May 5th, 2025, if you are behind on your Student Loan payments, you can have 15% of your Social Security benefit withheld until it is repaid. You need to make a payment plan arrangement before May 5th, 2025, to…
What Is the Best Age to Claim Your Social Security?
This depends on your personal situation. If you are married, this decision should be made with your spouse. Look at your expected longevity (family history), your other retirement accounts, and how heavily dependent will you (or your survivor) will be…