“Yeah, I’ll bet they start means-testing Social Security soon. If you make a bunch of money, you won’t be able to collect any benefits.” Lots of people make such comments. Lots of other people listen seriously. “Means-testing” seems to be a quick solution for the inadequate funding of…
ReadQ The current stir about the possibility of reducing Social Security payments has many recipients "up in arms" I am 72 I retired at 54 due to an upcoming company spin off that I was afraid to stay around for to see what the new company benefits might be I started taking Social Security at 62 …
ReadSocial Security the most important social program in America is also the least understood Many retirees depend so much on Social Security that any discussion provokes anger The very young are the opposite— they dismiss it with a cavalier shrug assuming it won’t be there for them Most…
ReadLet us be grateful for small meaningless gestures I am referring of course to the single benefit of the last Presidential campaign Republicans and Democrats finally became sensitized to the condition of the Social Security Trust Fund Before last years' election the Trust Fund was a non…
ReadToday's rude question How Real Is the Social Security Surplus About 47 1 percent How we came to that figure involves a short lesson in the fine art of bookkeeping government style We start our lesson at the website of the Social Security Administration where we can read the most recent…
ReadQ I'm 34 years old and despite my master's degree in public policy a little confused by the numbers Social Security sends me in their little green and white "Social Security Statement" mailer They say that if I retire at age 67 my payment would be $1 984 per month less if I retire early …
Read"I believe you to be totally wrong in regard to not taking Social Security at age 62 Every study I've read on "break even points" concludes that based on average life expectancies for early full and delayed benefits the benefits are designed to work out the same Even a recent AARP column…
ReadQ Isn't the real problem with Social Security the fact that Congress (both parties) spent the money on "pork" for re election Could it be that the real purpose of Bush's privatization plan is to keep Congress's spendaholic hands off of it so something is actually there when we retire H D …
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Q. I will be 66 in July—that’s full retirement age according to Social Security. I am thinking about starting to draw Social Security while I am still working. I will work to age 68, waiting for my wife to be able have Medicare benefits. I earn about $88,000 a year. My wife doesn’t work…
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How can you get your money’s worth out of all that you pay into Social Security? There are things you can do to increase your benefits somewhat, such as defer them. But the big levers are in the structure of our society, not in machinations we can do with advisers who offer help. We can see this in…
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