Social Security (Page 3 of 5)
Social Security Rules I Can’t Explain
I’ve always prided myself on being able to explain the rationale behind various Social Security rules and regulations. However, there are some laws that I never could, and still can’t, explain.
Social Security COLA for 2025
In mid-October every year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its much-anticipated report on changes (usually increases) to the Consumer Price Index over the past 12 months. Why is this little esoteric government report so popular? Because for the past 50 years, it’s the report that determines the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that Social Security beneficiaries will get the following year.
How SSI Benefits Can Help Struggling Seniors and the Disabled
Currently, around 7.5 million people are receiving SSI benefits, but many more are now eligible as the SSA recently expanded access benefits by tweaking some of the rules. Here’s what you should know.
A Widow Doesn’t Have To ‘Live in Sin’ To Get Social Security
Headlines in newspapers around the country went something like this: “Widow must live in sin to avoid losing Social Security check.” Television news reports featured interviews with women in disguise who reported, “I am ashamed to say I am living in sin to avoid losing my government benefits.” Whatever the report, the phrase “living in sin” was always the common thread.
How Your Retirement Benefit is Figured
There are three kinds of people. There are those who just want to know what their benefit is going to be and don’t really care too much about how it’s calculated. Then there are those people who want a general idea of how their benefit will be figured, but they don’t need or want to know all the nitty-gritty details. And finally, there are more than a few senior citizens out there who want to know exactly how the government comes up with their retirement benefit calculation.
Rumors About Undocumented Immigrants and Social Security Are Untrue
For years, I’ve been hearing silly rumors about undocumented immigrants and Social Security. And those rumors seem to have multiplied many times in this election season.
How to Enroll in Medicare if You’re on Social Security Disability
Enrolling in the right Medicare plan, whether it’s Original Medicare with a Supplement and a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with Part D included, can be extremely complicated for someone with a serious health condition.
Social Security and the Death of a Spouse
Sometimes I’ll include something in a column about a broader topic that I think is just a small, almost insignificant piece of the puzzle. But then that nugget ends up confusing many people, causing them to write to me for clarification. That happened recently when I wrote about the measly $255 one-time benefit that Social Security pays when someone dies.
Foreign Pensions and Social Security
In our global economy, it is not uncommon for people to have lived and worked in two or more countries, and thus potentially qualify for Social Security benefits from different countries. How a foreign pension may interact with US Social Security benefits is the subject of today’s column.
When and How To File for Social Security Benefits
Whether you make the decision on your own or with help from a financial planner, once you decide the month you want your benefits to start, many of you still want to know how far in advance you should file for those benefits. That is the “when to file” advice I am offering in this column.
Will the Social Security Data Breach Affect My Medicare?
A staggering 2.9 billion people have been impacted by a recent Social Security data breach, leaving many worried about the security of their personal information. Here’s everything you need to know to stay safe.
I’ll Tell You What’s Wrong with Social Security!
Every single day, more than a few of the emails I get from readers start out with this (or a similar) phrase: “I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Social Security!” They proceed to do just that. Sadly, their little rant is almost always wrong and based on a misunderstanding of Social Security rules or misinformation they picked up – usually off the Internet.
Myths About Social Security Benefits for Spouses
There are thousands of myths about Social Security benefits. Those myths are usually started online, but then they get picked up by uninformed people and spread from one nattering novice to another.
Divorced Man’s Guide to Social Security
Your ex-wife does not need your permission to file for divorced wife’s benefits on your record. If the law says she’s due benefits, she’ll get them no matter what you say. Here’s what else you should know…
No Death Benefit for Widow of Husband Who Was Having an Affair
The $255 death benefit from Social Security was meant to be a temporary relief for families. Yet, decades later, it’s still around and comes with some strange eligibility rules. Here’s why some widows qualify for monthly benefits yet miss out on this one-time sum.
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