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AARP has a calculator to determine When to claim Social Security to help you determine the right timing for you! You can also earn AARP Rewards points, not signed up for AARP Rewards yet? Click here!     Share what you learned from this calculator that you didn't know before! Did it help you make a decision?

I started an application - never completed or submitted it and never received benefits (though I have a number for it) and it needs to go in by early May to be processed.  I am thinking about withdrawing it and waiting a little longer before applying. I know you CAN withdraw an application (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-521.pdf) but I worry if I do that I may be opening a HUGE can or worms that could cause me to be stuck in SSA hell when I try again.  Anyone else gone through this? Do you recommend I just go ahead with the application I already started?

FROM THE ARTICLE: Social Security to Withhold Benefits to Recoup Overpayments.SSA restores policy of cutting off payments to correct past errors. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published March 12, 2025. The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn’t make payment errors often — less than 1 percent of the time, according to agency data. But when it does pay a beneficiary more than they’re entitled to receive, the SSA is legally required to get the money back.For some beneficiaries, that could soon mean temporarily losing their entire Social Security income. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/social-security/withhold-benefits-recoup-overpayments.html

I received the AAP pare today and was interested in the Omaha Life add that AARP displayed. I typed in the Directoamhalive.com that the ad from the AARP paper displayed and it immediately stated "Connection is not private and scammers maybe watching", do you want to go forward"! that's right people, the AARP paper is the scam itself attempting to fraud us! Is nothing safe anymore? I will stop using the AARP magazine/paper as it is totally unsafe garbage. 

A really good thing - the amount was overpaid and now they are getting it back without waiting months or years. They are adhering to the 10% recovery for those notified before 03/27/2025 or whom are SSI (Supplemental Security Income)  Overpayments. SSA.gov News Release - 03/07/2025 - Social Security to Reinstate Overpayment Recovery Rate Policy - Update Supports Fiscal Responsibility  from the link ~The agency strives to pay the right person the right amount at the right time, and issues correct payments to most beneficiaries. When an overpayment does occur, the agency is required by law to seek repayment. As of March 27, the agency will begin mailing notices about the new 100 percent withholding rate, rather than the recent adjustment of just 10 percent. The withholding rate change applies to new overpayments related to Social Security benefits. The withholding rate for current beneficiaries with an overpayment before March 27 will not change and no action is

Columnist Andy Markowitz is naive about Trump White House intentions. The opposite of AARP Calls to Action RE threats yo Social Security. AARP needs to be consistent, relentless and action oriented. That is not happening now.  Focus needs to have started yesterday!  The time is now. Tomorrow is too late. If AARP does not act up now and lead, everything else you have worked to feature and promote will not matter.

The SSA website says applications such as mine should be processed in 30 days, but it has been closer to 60 days and mine should be one of the easier ones to process. The messaging on the SSA website has not changed (it still says 30 days) and I had wanted my benefit payments to begin last month. Calling the national office and the regional offices are exercises in futility; with each call I've made, I've been on hold for an hour in January and over an hour in February but still never talked to anyone! I understand there are staff cuts underway and even regional office cuts (my application is--or was--being processed in Richmond, California). Do you know what a more realistic processing time is these days? Are they processing ANY applications currently? Is the Administration listening to AARP's lobbyists--or anyone? It feels like the Administration does not care about its senior citizens, despite what is being said by our president. Thank you for any helpful information you c

Hypothetically if I am receiving $700 a month and my husband is receiving $1200 a month, my survivor benefits would be his $1200, and not his plus mine?

The RMD's laws needs to be change NOW Here is my proposal to congress:1.- Start RMD at 80-year-old for all2.- It should be 1% taking out for all the money (tax deferred money)3.- Eliminate the 10-year clause for the person who get the money and 1 and 2 above should apply Why senior citizens are penalizing by the RMD system. ir seems that they want us to be bankrupt and die with no money. THE LAW NEEDS TO BE REVISE NOW!!!

I have recently experienced two instances (in last two months) of orders being placed through my account, charged to my card. The first time, it was for a pick-up, which I was able to cancel. The second was for deliveries to addresses thousands of miles away, using different names but possibly mis-read to be mine. Both instances for for hundreds of dollars. Walmart assistance advised they would escalate to their cyber-security but advised I should change password and remove my payment method. I changed password but could not remove payment method (due to my membership in Walmart+). While checking my account I found the fraudster added their address to my account, which indicates they had access to my account. What puzzles me is of all my online accounts, ONLY EVER have I experienced this with Walmart. Has anyone else had this happen with their Walmart account? Thanks in advance! 

I just wondered, how safe do you feel about your life now? I worry about people having access to my banking information through access to my social security account information. I'm worried they'll re-take my monthly stipend, which is what I use for rent and food. The next step would be not sending my monthly stipend. I'm so scared I'll end up on the curb again, through no fault of my own this time.

FROM THE ARTICLE: AARP calls for reassurances from SSA on commitment to customer service. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published February 28, 2025. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced plans for a “massive” restructuring of its operations on Friday that “will include significant workforce reductions” affecting thousands of jobs.A Feb. 28 statement from the SSA set a target of reducing the SSA workforce from about 57,000 employees to 50,000, a 12 percent cut. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/social-security/ssa-workforce-reductions.html

I submitted my application, in New York, for social security retirement benefits on October 22, 2024 for my benefits to start in February.  I haven't heard anything from the social security office.  Then I moved to another state on December 14, 2024.  I contacted my social security office in the new state and told them about my move.  They updated my address.  The new state office also said I should contact the office in Jamaica, NY where my application is being evaluated.  They said that the address on my application probably hadn't changed and something about not having submitted an affidavit.  I wrote to the NY office about my change of address on February 14, 2025.  I have since also submitted a form ssa-521 to withdraw my social security application because I have found a job that pays what I was making when I left NY, so I decided to continue working. I submitted this form to my local office in the new state.  Can I potentially lose my

FROM THE ARTICLE: AARP Urges Members to Contact Congress Now to Protect Social Security.Older Americans continue to raise concerns about payments, customer service. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published March 04, 2025. As Social Security prepares to slash its workforce, AARP is urging its members to call on Congress to protect the program that provides crucial financial support to 68 million retirees, people with disabilities and members of their families.“We’ve been hearing from thousands of older Americans across the country who are concerned and confused about their Social Security — will their payments come on time? Can they get timely answers to their questions?” says Nancy LeaMond, chief advocacy and engagement officer for AARP. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/call-on-congress-protect-social-security.html

Just received an email from social-security@aarp.org <aarpadvocacy@email.aarp.org> with the following text:It’s time to tell your lawmakers: “I pay into and EARN my Social Security — and you MUST protect it." Talking with your Congressional offices makes a huge impact and shows them what’s on voters’ minds.We are hearing from thousands of older Americans who are confused and concerned about their Social Security. They want to know their members of Congress will protect Social Security for them, their children, and grandchildren.Dial 866-972-9806 to talk to your U.S. House RepresentativeDial 866-995-8827 to talk to your U.S. Senators This is all well and good but since I have been contacting my Senators and Representatives, I KNOW that these are not the numbers to contact them by.

SSA.gov - Press Release 02/25/2025 - Social Security Announces Expedited Retroactive Payments and Higher Monthly Benefits for Millions- Actions Support the Social Security Fairness Act  from the link ~   the Social Security Administration announced it is immediately beginning to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security (a "non-covered pension") because they did not pay Social Security taxes. The Social Security Fairness Act ends WEP and GPO.==================Watch your bank account for these added funds.   

Something Changed on the Social Security Yearly Statements. I am very diligent about getting my SS Yearly Statements from their website. (I also run a Benefits Estimator set of reports - using income gradients from 0K to 200K, in 10K intervals - every year. Assuming retirement at 70, and future incomes from 0 to 200K.) My sister in law noted that her SS Yearly Statement shows her SS benefit being reduced (by some $150 a month) - she is further from retirement than I am. I ran my report in response and my Yearly Statement also shows a benefit reduction (at the latter years). It seems the further out you are from retirement the more the reduction is. However, when I run my reports on the Benefits Estimator Calculator, the numbers increase (per usual) - so the Yearly Statement and the Calculator numbers do NOT match up, or even show the same trend. Does anyone else keep a historical record of their SS Yearly Statements, and have you run it lately and seen that the futu

FROM THE ARTICLE: Most older Americans count on monthly benefits as their largest source of income. By Kenneth Terrell, AARP. Published February 20, 2025. The acting head of the Social Security Administration (SSA) on Feb. 19 sought to reassure older Americans that payments will continue as usual and that Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff have limited access to its systems, amid growing concerns over service disruptions and the privacy of beneficiaries’ personal data.“Our continuing priority is paying beneficiaries the right amount at the right time, and providing other critical services people rely on from us,”  Acting Social Security Commissioner Lee Dudek said in statement. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/social-security-payments-data-protections.html

How about this twist?We just started Medicare January 2025We got hit with IRMAA because our 2023 MAGI was too highHOWEVER, I retired in 2023 (life changing event - work stoppage) and our MAGI for 2024 and going forward will be below IRMAA limitsI filed SSA 44 documenting my retirement and providing below IRMAA MAGI estimates going forward.I just recvd a letter denying my appeal.I called my local SSA office.I was told even though I retired in 2023, it is irrelvant because my 2023 MAGI was too high. I asked her to clarify this 3 timesWTF? I thought the whole point of a SSA 44 appeal was to solve this situation and eliminate / reduce IRMAA due to reduced income.What am I not getting?I asked for an in perosn appt to have this explained to me and she said no, there is no point I will only tell you the same thingI said it is my right to have an appt and I demand one.My appt is in two weeks.What am I not understanding?

    SSA.gov - Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) update (02/25/2025)   

Anyone else receive an email thanking them for purchasing over a grand in this? Says it's being charged to my PayPal account!

Hello, guys! Thanks for a wonderful podcast; I really love the Perfect Scam podcast. In this post I want to provide a bit of feedback, especially relevant for the "SIM Swapping: Scammers Hijack Smartphones and Steal Thousands" episode. Especially for this episode and also for the podcast in general, I feel like there are not enough details provided on how the scam operates. I feel like the podcast focuses more on what victims were feeling, what their emotional struggle was like (which is, of course, important) but not enough details are provided about how the scam operates. For the SIM Swapping, the host says that this victim had his phone number moved to a different eSIM and that this would not have been possible with a physical SIM. This is wrong, the telco can move numbers to other physical SIMs at free will. Next, after having the phone number moved to another SIM, the attackers gain access to the victim's bank account by means of controlling the SMSes arriving

I just had the weird experience of seeing two emails from Social Security in my "spam" folder. The first one titled "Help Us Slam the Scam" seemed legitimate so I clicked the "it's okay" button. The second email, titled "Unlock Insights: Your Enhanced Social Security Statement", also seemed okay at first glance. Then I saw it was actually from "info@jauntr.co".  Oops, no thanks! Then I kicked myself for accepting the first message. But it turned out to be legitimate. But I learned my lesson on that!  So, people, be careful out there! watch out for those scammers. Don't click any links in the emails (I "virtually" never do... not 100% but close to it).

FROM THE ARTICLE: 5 Steps for Tracking Down Old 401(k)s.A new federal database will make it easier to find your retirement funds from past jobs. By Patricia Amend and Andy Markowitz, AARP. Updated January 21, 2025. Have you changed jobs and left retirement accounts behind?“Forgetting about old 401(k)s, or even how much is in them, is more common that we would all like to think,” says Kashif Ahmed, president of American Private Wealth in Bedford, Massachusetts. “I recently had a client who forgot about an old 401(k). Once we uncovered it, it had more than triple what she thought it might contain.” USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/money/retirement/find-forgotten-401k-and-other-money/

It doesn't seem that processing times are extraordinarily long such that there is a systemic problem (there is a problem but this is not it). A few thoughts on this: 1 - This article at SSA indicates "You can apply for retirement benefits up to 4 months before you want to start receiving your benefits." https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-01891.html, So, no point in applying sooner, you'll just be waiting longer. 2 - I have read, and been told by SSA representatives over the phone, that while they may begin processing upon receipt of the application, it may not be completed until closer to the month that the benefit is to begin. So, you apply in January for benefits to begin in April (with first payment in May) you may see no activity on your application until sometime even in April. I have no documentation of this scheduling but it's what SSA rep's told me once or twice, so this is anecdotal. (And this was the case for me.) 3 - Per the SSA itself, "Percentage of pe