Social Security
A Look Ahead at the Future of Social Security COLAs
With the Federal Reserve’s progress toward reigning in the inflationary spiral of the past few years, coupled with its 2% long-term target for inflation, the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment is likely to be well below the average of the past three…
Social Security’s Reduced COLA outlook–Thoughts on the “Pro” Side
Most people know that the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applied to benefits in January has been higher than the program’s historical increase for the past three years, averaging just under 6%. Most people also know that projections for the 2025…
Floor Vote on H.R. 82 (WEP/GPO Repeal) Likely for November
The bipartisan discharge petition initiated by Rep. Garret Graves, R-La, and Rep. Abigal Spanberger, D-Va, has achieved the required number of signatures to force a floor vote. The Bill, titled “Social Security Fairness Act of 2023,” would, if passed, repeal…
COLA Watch – How the 2025 Adjustment is Shaping Up
We’re in the closing stages of the calculation window to determine next year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), and many seniors are looking forward to the final announcement in October. In the run-up to that point, there has been steady…
2024 Election Campaign – Trump Comments from North Carolina
Speaking at a campaign rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, former President Donald Trump delivered remarks focused on the key issues taking center stage in this election cycle. He covered several tax issues, including the “no tax on tips” pledge, the…
Exploring the Reality of IRMAA in Light of a Real-life Situation
Medicare’s income-related monthly adjusted amount (IRMAA) regulation can, and often does, catch seniors in specific situations unaware. LA Times columnist Liz Weston, a Certified Financial Planner, offers an explanation of how this regulation impacts beneficiaries taking a large one-time withdrawal from…
Ask Rusty – Veteran Asks About Special Credits for Military Service
Dear Rusty: I just learned that if I served in the military during an active-duty period, i could get extra earnings for Social Security and that these benefits would be automatically added to my record, but I was never asked…
Retirement in the 2020s: “Unretirement” Has Reached Phenomenon Status
For most folks, retiring from a regular job, whatever the reason, is generally considered a “full stop” milestone. Shifting from the everyday working environment to a life of leisure was seen as a change to a new lifestyle with fewer…
What you need to know about filing for Social Security
Are you thinking about filing for your Social Security benefits in 2025? Although you may have a basic idea of your benefits, several rules could result in less money than anticipated. Kailey Hagen outlines the three things you need to…
H.R. 82 has reached the necessary signatures
The Social Security Fairness Act has reached the necessary 218 signatures required to force a vote on the bill. This bill will reverse the rules surrounding the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules can…