Senior Living
/Health
Social Security and You: Seeing It in Black and White
Readers are always asking me to explain various Social Security rules and regulations. But sometimes they want more. They want to see something official -- something in "black and white." In other words, they want me to give them a legal reference.
I sort of know where they are coming from. Frequently, they have heard one thing from a friend or...Read more
Social Security and You: Politics, Elections and Social Security
Because the presidential and congressional elections are on everyone's mind, more than a few people have sent me emails saying something like this: "I'm afraid that this upcoming election will lead to dramatic changes to Social Security. So even though I didn't want to file for Social Security for a few more years, I'm going to do it now so that...Read more
Social Security and You: Here Are Some 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. Many times, readers will send me emails in which they express utter befuddlement at a law or regulation that affects their eligibility for Social Security. It's usually a situation that results in them getting reduced benefits. ...Read more
Social Security and You: 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 -- actually called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers -- so popular? Because for the ...Read more
Social Security and You: A Widow Doesn't Have To 'Live in Sin' To Get Social Security
Q: My mother told me she remembers a time when women had to "live in sin" (those are her words) to avoid losing Social Security benefits. She couldn't elaborate, but she thinks some senior women still have to do that today. Do you know what she is talking about?
A: Yes, I know exactly what she is talking about. It has to do with the payment of ...Read more
Social Security and You: How Your Retirement Benefit Is Figured
I've learned over the years that when it comes to Social Security retirement benefit calculations, 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 ...Read more
Social Security and You: 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. Here are several examples.
Q: I've heard on the news that illegal aliens are getting $2,000 per month from Social Security. This is an outrage. I am a born and raised American....Read more
Social Security and You: More About 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 ...Read more
Social Security and You: Foreign Pensions and Social Security
I've commented many times before that Social Security is a global phenomenon. Almost every country on the planet has a Social Security system in place for its citizens. (And many countries had social insurance plans long before we got around to implementing our program in 1935.)
In our global economy, it is not uncommon for people to have lived...Read more
Social Security and You: When and How To File for Social Security Benefits
There is probably nothing I am asked more often than some version of this question: "When should I file for my Social Security?" But as I've said repeatedly in this column, I am not a financial planner. So I really can't advise you about the best time to start your Social Security benefits. I can tell you that there is no magic or secret formula...Read more
Social Security and You: '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 wrong and based on a misunderstanding of Social Security rules or misinformation they picked up -- usually off the ...Read more
Social Security and You: Myths About Benefits for Spouses
As I've pointed out over and over again in this column, 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. I couldn't squeeze a thousand myths into a book, but I have written one called "Social ...Read more
Social Security and You: No Death Benefit for Widow of Husband Who Was Having an Affair
Q: My husband of 49 years died a few months ago. I filed for widow's benefits and started receiving them with no problem. But I got a letter telling me that I was not eligible for the $255 death benefit. When I called the Social Security people to ask about this, they told me that I wasn't due that one-time benefit because we were not living ...Read more