Money

I received an AARP WEBLETTER that had an article regarding 12 supermarkets that offer senior citizens discounts. The contributor writing this article for AARP left out a major chain in their list, an omission that could cost AARP members hundreds of dollars a year.  I ask.... DOESN'T ANYONE EDIT, RESEARCH, OR REVIEW ARTICLES BEFORE DISTRIBUTION TO AARP MEMBERS? This contributor left out PUBLIX, a chain of grocery stores that covers EIGHT STATES, is in FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX CITIES, and has ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FOUR stores. What an omission!!!!! Publix offers seniors a 5% discount on their groceries on Wednesdays. This is just one example of omissions, errors, and other miscues found in AARP articles on a regular basis.  

Organizations That Grant Wishes to Seniors and the Terminally Ill++++ The Dream Foundationhttps://www.dreamfoundation.org/Grants wishes to people 18 and older in the US who have a serious, life-limiting diagnosis. To be eligible, you must be referred by a medical professional.++++++++++++++ Wish of a Lifetimehttps://wishofalifetime.org/Grants life-changing wishes to older adults. You can nominate an older adult for a wish.++++++++++++++ Fill Your Bucket List Foundationhttps://www.fillyourbucketlistfoundation.org/Grants wishes to adults with cancer so they can make memories with loved ones.++++++++++++++ Stella's Wish Foundationhttps://www.stellaswish.org/Grants wishes to adults with life-threatening cancers across the US.++++++++++++++ Senior Wisheshttps://www.seniorwishes.org/Grants meaningful wishes to deserving seniors to honor their contributions and improve their quality of life.++++++++++++++

Suze Orman Advice on Social Securityhttps://www.suzeorman.com/blog/tag/social-security

My Mother receives Social Security SSI money. If she has or makes too much money, they will start restricting her benefits. I'm in a position where I need to utilize her bank account, and move about $2,000 dollars a month through her account. She's afraid they will see this money and think it is hers and start taking some of her money. Is there any form we can fill out, or anything we can do proactively to let the IRS or Social Security Administration know that this is my money and not hers? I don't want to negatively effect her income, but I'm unable to open my own bank account for the foreseeable future due to personal reasons. Thanks!

     I live in Thailand where my SS check is sent. In the past I was able to transfer online and also had an ATM card. Now the Thai banks are saying that the US govt has said that all recipients must go to the bank in person for all transactions. Supposedly because of fraud, but it is a pain in the butt. Is this true or not and if so, who can I complain to? Not that it will do any good, but it will make me feel better.

I currently have a ROTH IRA account with major Financial Institution A.  I opened and funded this ROTH IRA account in 1998, so I have satisfied the ROTH IRA 5-Year Rules concerning tax-free withdrawals of earnings.  I am thinking of moving this ROTH IRA account to major Financial Institution B.  Will the ROTH IRA 5-year rule clock start over at zero for the new ROTH IRA account?

  I inherited my husband's IRA retirement upon his death.  I am liable for Federal taxes if I transfer this to   my  IIRA retirement?  

 A bill was recently introduced in the House by Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn) called "You earned it You keep it". It would eliminate federal taxes from Social Security wages. A windfall for most retired people a great help in these trying times. What is AARP's stand on this not sure? What is your Representative's stand maybe time to ask? Time for the senior citizens voice to be heard. Why are all tax regulations aimed at businesses and the wealthy?  Seniors have been paying taxes for a long time. If you agree let's hear your opinion!Ray G

Instacart: The membership is $99 and you have to cancel within 3 months to get a full refund.  If you have Instacart, it will automatically renew unless you call their headquarters to cancel it. First of all there are some honest drivers doing your shopping, but the ones who are not can be the biggest pain and Instacart will do nothing to deter them.  Missing food from your order happens quiet a lot at Instacart.  Even though you need the item, you will have to order over $35 to get your item hopefully in the next order you make.  The only thing Instacart will do is remove that drive from ever doing your shopping in the future.  The second thing you can choose is not to tip them at the end of your order, BUT if you look closely at the bottom of your receipt Instacart already give them a tip from you.  I just found out you must call Instacart back immediately and have them remove the extra tip.   I'm on a low sodium diet and I

Note: If you don't read the entire post, take a look at the attached links to google drive that illustrates two scenarios. 1) $750K initial investment (now) in a fixed index annuity with an income rider providing a guaranteed minimum payment of $84369 starting in 7 years. 2) Investment of $750K now earning 5% interest annually and withdraws of $84369 starting in 7 years. Notice how #2 runs out by the time I am 83 (7 yrs shy of end of plan). I need to earn >6% in the #2 scenario to make it to the end. This is just an illustration using 25% of the portfolio for the annuity. Now read on for more detail. Appreciate any comments. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bFFmDIuY2Y7CKYJVf-H46rFNHR2EOIPe/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1yZiZrR60pw34rRDQJYRf6dZbNP-U1hgI/view?usp=sharing  Most of us are not fortunate enough nowadays for have a pension, and social security will not cover all of our expenses. Creating more guaranteed income (which a fixed index annuity c

5 Reasons to Retire in Florida … and 4 Reasons to Think Twice. Come for the sunshine, low taxes and endless golf, but be prepared for hurricanes, roof rats and tourist hordes. By Bob Niedt. Published November 28, 2023. https://www.aarp.org/retirement/planning-for-retirement/info-2023/retiring-in-florida.html 

FROM ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE! Medicare and Social Security Are Critical to a Secure Retirement, Say Americans 50+. By Rebecca Perron, AARP Research & Teresa A. Keenan, AARP Research. Published May 06, 2024. The importance of Social Security and Medicare to Americans age 50-plus cannot be overstated, according to the first annual AARP survey that explores feelings about these programs.Key Findings Nearly all Americans age 50-plus say Social Security and Medicare are important for financial security in retirement, including 90% who say Social Security is very important and 84% who say Medicare is very important. Though they see these programs as important, Americans age 50-plus express skepticism over the future of Social Security and Medicare. Nearly 9 in 10 are worried that Social Security (87%) and Medicare (88%) will not be able to provide at least the same level of benefits in *** USE LINK AT BOTTOM OF THIS POST TO READ THIS ARTICLE ***

I  was fortunate to have a pension and took a lump sum after over 20 years. It was a contributory pension that allowed me to contribute 1.5% of my salary monthly for a higher pension.I'd like to calculate the performance as if it was an investment. I have each monthly investment amount, which is not consistent due to my salary changing. I also have the final lump sum amount. Is there a spreadsheet template that would allow me to put each individual amount (around 312) and the final amount to get a performance metric?

i have a long clean and accident free driving record since 1967.....last year thru the hartfod/aarp i was paying $669.00 a year...and my driving...i am now 74...is about 1-2 hours a week! so what would you think about car insurance?....well....the Hartford thinks i should pay $969.00 a year! A $330.00 INCREASE!!!!...i know most of us oldies do not drive as much as we did when were were all working...but...its obvious...THE HARTFORD is using the aarp /"partenership" to rape every old person in this country! remember the "big S.S.increase we all got 2 years ago...the hartford ceo needs that money for another mansion...yacht...or island......the solution is easy: drop the insurance and eat again!;;;;;;;;;;;;screw the law!!!;;;;;;;;;;;

  For those who would like to read it themselves -  straight from the horses’ mouth, so to speak.   2024 Social Security Trustee Report Summary   Sometimes other media outlets tend to emphasize somethings in the report rather than others -     So is the outlook really any better?  Not in my book -  personally with employment doing so well and with wages being way up - I was really expecting more as it relates to extending the SS programs of Retirement and Survivors (OASI).   Yes, the SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) seems to be doing better but remember we have OVER a million disability claims that are backlogged at the present time.https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/01/over-1-million-people-are-waiting-on-social-security-disability-claims.html    For those who are retired or are almost to that point:  (from the link) -   Based on our best estimates, this year's reports sh

Does anyone know if I am able to check on the status of my son's social security benefit payment. He lives with my ex-wife and neither of them will communicate with me. My son turned 18 in January of 2024, so does that mean his benefit has stopped automatically? I read about the ability to extend it if the child is enrolled in a school under grade 12, but he was home schooled his entire life. Am I able to check online somewhere if his benefit has stopped?

From what I have read, ever since the housing bubble burst, more people are renting instead of buying homes, causing rents to soar.  Investing in apartment buildings has become profitable, and the companies managing them are more interested in generating profits for their investors than they are in the welfare of their tenants.  However, the knowledge that I am in a crowded, leaking boat does not help me prevent it from sinking. When I moved into my one bedroom apartment fifteen years ago, I could afford it.  Now, I manage to pay my rent from the income I derive from Social Security and my part time job.  Each year, the rent increases get larger and more monthly fees for services I neither need nor use are added.  As a result, I've turned frugality into a near art form, trimming all the fat I can from my budget, but I recoil at cutting into its muscle and bone.  What awaits me when my lease expires in February 2020 deeply concerns me. My previous

I am 64 but have not filed for SSI. My wife is also 64 but already filed for SSI when she was 63. My benefit will be significantly higher than hers. My question is does the benefit for her as a survivor, should I die first, be greater if I wait until 70 to file, or is it maxed out at my FRA of 67?  That is presuming I don't die until after the age of 70. And I realize she cannot receive both hers and mine. Thank you 

   Hi:   I retired in 2022 and was charged a part D monthly adjustment in 2022 for high income reported on 2020 tax return filed in April 2021. May I file for a refund based on 2022 income? If so do I use Form SSA-44?Or am I out of luck because I did not file SSA-44 in 2022 when I retired?

 Married 40 years.  Divorced 9 months.  Ex (age 74) started collecting SS 9 years ago.  I just reached full retirement age (66.5). Social security told me that I could not collect under his name because I was not divorced for TWO years yet and to reapply then. Said that rule applied was across the board - applied to everyone. According to AARP, the two year rule only applies if EX has not started SS yet. Who is correct? If AARP is correct, how do I fight this with SS?

ANYONE MOVED BACK TO THEIR "HOMETOWN" TO RETIRE OR LEFT FLORIDA OR WANT TO MOVE TO FLORIDA?  🤔  WELL, I AM LIVING IN "BOTH" FLORIDA AND VIRGINIA WHILE I "VERY SLOWLY" MOVE BACK TO FLORIDA. RETIRED!  😎 FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE. Is the Rust Belt Right for Your Affordable Retirement? Older industrial cities tout low-cost housing, revitalized downtowns to draw back retirees with local roots. By Michael Anft, AARP. Published March 13, 2024. When a couple of financial adviser Ryan Carney’s clients grew tired of retirement living in Florida last year, they picked up stakes and returned to their old hometown, the Sunshine State’s polar opposite: Buffalo, New York. Low living costs, well-established health care facilities, a downtown makeover and proximity to Niagara Falls have helped make the Rust Belt city on Lake Erie more attractive to retirees like them, despite its lake-effect snowstorms and subzero temperatures. https://w

Situation, Wife has no credits, Husband does.  Both over 65 now, Got married a few years ago, waited the one year and she now receives the 50% of his.  Now if they Divorce well under the 10 year mark, will she loose her 50% and get nothing since she has no credits?

 Hello Again,  Three years ago My 86 year old Mother-in-law who lost her husband who was receiving Social Security Retirement. She called to inquire about Survivor’s Benefits as a Widow & was told she was eligible for a certain amount every month. She had been receiving it until she received a letter from Social Security stating that she should not have received it & has to pay them back. I don’t agree that ANYONE should have to repay Social Security due to the errors of those employees who should KNOW about Social Security. They are mistreating the vulnerable & giving them the run around also in having them do telephone interviews as well. They know the majority probably aren’t tech savvy either. It’s happening a lot now & something needs to be done about it.

     My ex husband passed Nov 1, 2023. We divorced Jan 4 2014 after being separated for several yrs I became disabled Jan10 2014. I was 54.  I remarried Sept 5 2015 at age 55. Am I eligible to survivor benefits? I was told yes by 2 employees of Social Security and no by 2 other employees. I received a denial because I remarried before 60 and was verbally told because I’m over 60.  Anyone know where I can get legal assistance?

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE! Social Security Struggles to Improve Customer Service. Hiring freeze amid congressional spending standoff sets back efforts to reduce phone wait times, speed up disability claims, SSA says. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published April 10, 2024. *** USE LINK AT BOTTOM OF THIS POST TO READ THIS ARTICLE *** [1] Then enter Email Address you used to sign in to use This Site.   [2] Then enter the password you use.   [3] Lastly, there are 3 LETTERS that will "pop up" as their SECURITY CHECK. Enter those.   [4] Then click log in. https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/info-2024/hiring-freeze-customer-service.html