The Social Security Administration recently announced that the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will raise benefits by 2.8% for 2019. The average retirement benefit of $1,400 will increase by $39.20 per month, to ...
Category: Issues
Medicare Part D Coverage Gap Closes In 2019
While little progress was made this year to lower overall drug costs, some changes made by the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 are helping an estimated 5 million Medicare beneficiaries with the highest annual out-of- ...
Q &A: November 2018
What Can You Tell Me About Retroactive Social Security Benefits? Q: I’m turning 65 soon, and I’m not employed since I was caring for my husband who recently passed away. I inherited our home and two retirement accoun ...
Retirees to Get Highest COLA in 7 Years
Retirees will finally start to see more money in their Social Security benefits next year, after years of record low inflation. The Social Security Administration recently announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COL ...
What the Social Security Trust Fund is Missing From Top Paid CEOs
In the debate over Social Security’s long-term finances, some argue that the program is unsustainable because it is paying out more in benefits than it takes in. They say that benefits, including cost-of-living adjustme ...
Q & A: October 2018
Q: Can you tell me how Social Security benefits are figured? I’m 63 and my wife is 61. Both of us are still working. A: Social Security benefits are based on your lifetime earnings, age at retirement, and number ...
Will The Next COLA Finally Raise Your Social Security Benefit?
It’s a situation that many retirees haven’t seen since 2012. A noticeable boost to net Social Security benefits is expected for 2019. While the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) won’t be announced until October 1 ...
What’s At Stake for Social Security Benefits In the Upcoming Election?
Mary Johnson, editor Voters are worried about the impact that midterm elections could have on Social Security benefits. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office estimates that recent tax reform will add $1.8 trillion to ...
Benefit Bulletin: September 2018
Waiting Periods Can Bankrupt Disabled Beneficiaries More than 920,000 Americans await hearings that will determine their eligibility for Social Security disability insurance benefits (SSDI). The process is a long one ...
$1,800 Co-pay Sends Diabetic Searching For Better Options
Leslie R.’s biggest problem isn’t the fact that she’s 70, or that she’s trying to live on just Social Security and a small pension. Leslie is a type II insulin dependent diabetic, left with no savings after a battle wit ...