Social Security
The Debt Ceiling: Implications That Go Beyond Social Security
As indicated in today’s Headline post, the potential for Social Security benefits to be impacted by a U.S. government default is an item of considerable discussion these days. And while that’s certainly a critical possibility, it’s chilling to consider the…
Underscoring the Purpose of Social Security
In a post today on morningstar.com, financial journalist Mark Miller sets forth “A beginner’s guide to understanding and maximizing Social Security benefits.” But it’s more than that…Miller’s article delves into the program’s progressive design, highlighting its long-term role in addressing…
Reasons to Check Your SSA Annual Statement
Verifying the information included on your annual Social Security statement is an important thing to do, and can save you a lot of difficulty later in the event there are mistakes or omissions in the information contained in the statement. For…
Social Security and the Veteran Community
The month of May features many articles and happenings related to Veterans and their families, especially during the build-up to Memorial Day. What’s often overlooked, though, is the Social Security program’s range of services and support mechanisms available to those…
Ask Rusty – About “Survivor” Benefits vs. “Spousal” Benefits
Dear Rusty: I will be 70 in August and will file my application for benefits in May. I know I’ll get my maximum possible amount at age 70, but I need you to clarify things I have read. Per an…
Retirement Planning 101: A Look at Some Basics
As the article says at the outset, it’s never too early or too late to plan for your retirement. The simple fact is that the planning must start somewhere, and this post by the good folks at L’Observateur appearing on…
Are the Perils of “Wokeness” Overshadowing Concerns for Social Security?
Good question. A poll of Republican primary voters conducted by Wall Street Journal during the week of April 11-17, 2023 suggests that might be the case, with more than half of the participants suggesting that “Fighting woke ideology in our…
Using Social Security as a “Bank”
No, you can’t get a loan from Social Security to cover a large expense. You can, however, if all of the circumstances work for you, strategically obtain a short-term repayable advance on your benefits. This strategy involves the program’s one-time…
More on the 2023 COLA Trajectory
Fox News reporter Megan Henley offers thoughts on what next year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment might look like. Her post summarizes the methodology used to calculate the adjustment, as well as the timing for release of next year’s adjustment percentage,…
Social Security: If this is your year to claim, read this!
There are some very basic–and very important–fundamentals anyone on the cusp of claiming their Social Security benefits should know. For example, where you stand chronologically compared to your full retirement age is a key to what your monthly benefit payment…