Social Security
Examining the Retirement Earnings Test
Social Security regulations stipulate that upon beginning retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits, beneficiaries are considered “retired” and expected to leave the workforce. Current regulations allow for continued earning from employment for those who claim benefits before their full retirement age…
Boosting Your Monthly Social Security Benefit Payment
Getting the highest benefit payment you’re entitled to is a legitimate goal for seniors in their retirement financial planning, but how do you do that? Well, one of the most obvious steps is to defer claiming benefits as long as…
Inadequacy of COLA in the News Again
January Social Security benefits are underway at this point and, once again, observations of the COLA calculation process and its inadequacy to preserve purchasing power for seniors are surfacing. For example, a post this weekend by The Motley Fool’s Keith…
WEP-GPO Repeal Update: The Pressure is on for Timely Implementation
While the argument continues to rage following last week’s official signing of the Social Security Fairness Act into law, the House Ways and Means Committee has called for immediate relief for those affected by the repeal. Ways and Means Committee…
Arguments For and Against WEP-GPO Repeal Continuing to Surface
As noted in today’s headline post on this site, President Biden’s January 5 signing of the “Social Security Fairness Act” of 2023 into law continues to churn the media airwaves in its aftermath. Here are some examples of what’s surfacing:…
Breaking News: Social Security & Medicare aren’t Going Bankrupt!!
In the true sense of the word, neither Social Security nor Medicare is in any danger of going “bankrupt.” However, that doesn’t mean that both programs are not having financial difficulties. Indeed they are, but the worst case scenario is…
A Logistics Nightmare: Implementing the Social Security Fairness Act.
Celebrated by all those affected by the elimination Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), what’s not talked about is the logistics of implementing this new legislation known as the Social Security Fairness Act. Fact is, bills…
The Social Security Fairness Act – Patience is suggested
With the enactment of H.R. 82 – the Social Security Fairness Act – many are wondering what affect, if any, this new law may have on their personal Social Security benefit. For starters, you should know that unless you have…
For Federal Retirees affected by WEP and GPO
H.R. 82 – The Social Security Fairness Act – was signed into law earlier this week, eliminating Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions reduced Social Security benefits for anyone with a “non-covered” pension,…
Explaining the 2025 Full Retirement Age Change
You’ve probably seen a flurry of media accounts about the New Year bringing a change to the Social Security full retirement age (FRA). While it’s true that the coming year will set a new marker for those born in 1958…