Social Security

 If on October 15th, The COLA increase is 2.7%, there is good news and bad news. Now, remember I said If . That would be okay, if formula has not changed. The very bad news, is that Your MEDICARE rate would go from $ 185.00 to $ 206.00 . An increase of $ 21.50.  If You are getting below average SSA Benefits the amount will be adjusted. I just received My book from My Medicare Advantage Plan. No bargains here. Everything has increased as expected. Drug prices are insane.  So, hypothetically, if You get a projected $ 55 boost per month, it is now going to be $ 34.00 You end up with.  I  suppose not getting a COLA increase would be better, that way,  Your Check would hold steady, as MEDICARE cannot raise their rate if You don't get a raise in Your COLA.

We need to get our Congress Representatives to support the 'You earned it you keep it' bill. This allows for raising the cap on the taxable earnings and stopping the federal taxes on SSN.  This would keep the trust fund solvent until 2054 and decrease the long range deficit.  This is a win for all retirees..  We need AARP support.

FROM THE ARTICLE. CEO, members call on Congress to protect and strengthen Social Security for today’s beneficiaries and generations to come. By Deirdre van Dyk, AARP. Published September 26, 2025. To mark this year’s 90th anniversary of Social Security, AARP has held hundreds of events and activities around the country and engaged millions of older Americans.In Maine, AARP volunteers joined Gov. Janet Mills as she signed a proclamation honoring Social Security. In Iowa, they offered games and giveaways at the state fair to educate their neighbors about the importance of Social Security. In Wisconsin, they celebrated with baseball fans, handing out slices of birthday cake at a minor-league game. USE ARTICLE BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/ssa-90th-anniversary-town-hall/

Top story in AARP this month is a full spread on pain management, with scant mention of shortfalls to Social Security and Medicare - they garner only the barest mention on the bottom of page four?? A story on entering Sweepstakes gets more comprehensive coverage?Threats to seniors' well-being are numerous, food insecurity, housing, care, funding cuts to senior programs; the gutting of research for diseases and health issues directly affecting many of us?In a time when current Department of Health and Human Services spewing vaccine quackery? We deserve better, more thorough coverage of things that affect us and that matter.What happens in Washington matters. PLEASE AARP, pull your head out of the sand and report on the stories that affect us.

Discussion with National Council on Aging President and CEO,  Ramsey Alwin - Read transcript or watch/listen  CSPAN - Washington Journal 09/20/2025 - Poverty Rate Increasing Among Older Adults - a Social Security and other government helping program discussion. Interesting discussion but it brings to my mind just how many older Americans have wrong views on how the program works and a lot of misinformation about Social Security - all of it - from how it works to benefits and solutions to the insolvency problem the program is facing in the next several years. I just want to ask some of them - where did you come up with that notion?     

FROM THE ARTICLE. SSA handles enrollment, collects premiums for many Medicare beneficiaries. 6-minute read. By Andy Markowitz, AARP.Reviewed by Jammie Lyell, M.S.Published September 16, 2025 Key takeaways![*] Social Security manages Medicare enrollment.[*] Oftentimes you need to apply for Medicare yourself.[*] Many pay Medicare premiums through Social Security.[*] Social Security and Medicare have a historical connection.[*] Social Security manages SSDI and SSI, too. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/retirement/works-with-medicare/

AARP-Washington State Members speak about their reliance on Social Security 

Is anyone working on getting Congress to raise the $25000 income threshold on taxing SS? If it had kept up with inflation, it would be over $50,000 today and not affect more than 50% of SS recipients.

 I started an online application, for SS Retirement Benefits and now the Protective Filing Date, set to 6 months from the start of the application is approaching, but I cannot choice a benefit start date any earlier then 4 months ahead. The question is if the Protective Filing Date passes will my Retirement Benefits be affected or will I just have to resubmit an application?

Hello Everyone! Since going on the Retirement Social Security in 2020, I now "pay attention" to the media coverage saying it will not be around. I THINK the last news article (senior moment/lol 😂🤣) said program would be out of money by 2035. Yikes! 😱 Any opinions? Thanks,Nicole 🙂

FROM THE ARTICLE. Social Security Goes Up in Lights as AARP Takes Over Times Square.To celebrate the program’s 90th anniversary, AARP rolled through New York City with a clear message for U.S. lawmakers: Keep it strong, safe and solvent. By Emily Paulin, AARP. *** There are 2 comments on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published August 15, 2025. As the sun began its daily drop behind Manhattan’s skyline, a red double-decker bus rolled Thursday into the heart of Times Square, parking between two of the biggest and brightest billboards.On those billboards, gold coins appeared to fall from the sky before landing in a shiny, larger-than-life piggy bank representing Social Security contributions. Meanwhile, from the upper deck of the bus, roughly 50 Social Security recipients wearing bright red shirts and waving sparkly red pom-poms chanted, “We earned it! We earned it!” as a crowd of onlookers stopped, smiled and waved. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE A

    I just wanted to share an article that I read this morning : https://www.newsweek.com/social-security-funding-reform-seniors-consider-options-2103944      ~ Lisa 🌈🙋💰🤔

I accidently put "never married" when i applied my benefit last year.I thought i was going to divorce but not anymore.How can i change the marital status on SSA?

FROM THE ARTICLE. Unraveling the Rush: Why Americans Are Claiming Social Security Early. By Bryan Miller, AARP Research. Published August 13, 2025. The Urban Institute’s recent analysis of Social Security Administration (SSA) data found that more Americans are filing early for their retirement payments in 2025 compared with 2024. While early claiming (claiming Social Security retirement payments before reaching the full retirement age of 67) may be the right decision for some, it reduces the monthly payment and can result in lower lifetime payments for many retirees. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/work-finances-retirement/social-security/social-security-early-claims/

I am currently 72. My FRA was 66. I'm receiving SS benefits. I retired at 67 and 5 months. My wife is currently 61. She is a legal permanent resident and has never worked in the US. She is not disabled nor has ever been. She has never received any US benefits. When I die, and assuming my wife has reached her FRA, is she eligible to receive 100% of the benefit I was receiving, including all the COLAs I've received? Or, does she receive 100% of the basic retirement benefit I would have received at my FRA?

FROM THE ARTICLE. At These Key Moments, AARP Stood Up for Social Security.Activating tens of millions of members has enabled the organization to tackle threats to benefits and services. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. *** There is 1 comment on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published August 08, 2025. In early 2005, fresh off reelection, President George W. Bush went all in on his proposal to “fix” Social Security by allowing workers to divert the payroll taxes that fund the program into “personal retirement accounts.”In his State of the Union address that year, Bush said his plan would save Social Security for future generations by encouraging workers to invest that tax money in the stock market. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/times-aarp-fought-for-social-security.html

 I'm seeing posts all over the internet about people waiting 2 , 3, 4 months after applying for SS Retirement Benefits. I had also waited over three months, web site always said processing. I finally called my local field office and asked them about my application, explaining it's been over three months with no updates. The lady at the field office asked me for my information, looked in her computer, then told me I would need to call another number to ask about my application. I asked her if I do call this number, will they be able to tell me where they are in the application or would they just tell me it's in processing... which I already know. The lady in my field office said "Well, I can tell you this, they haven't processed your application at all... even now with our delays, that doesn't sound right." She gave me a number to call to reach the person who had my application (NOT the regular SS Customer Service Nightmare Number), gave me a Unit Code and the name o

I had planned to start taking my Social Security benefits before my full retirement age in February 2026, but wanted to wait long enough to include two more final paychecks. My 2025 earnings were filed back in January, and I’ll have one last paycheck in late August. Both likely won’t be fully processed and credited by SSA until October or November, with any resulting change to my benefit probably not reflected until December at the earliest.One of those paychecks could rank among my top 7 earning years, so I thought it might help bump up my benefit. But after reviewing things with my accountant, we concluded that once you start collecting Social Security, any new contributions typically don’t change your benefit much—unless they replace a low year in your 35-year average. And even then, the increase is often modest.Based on my math, I’d need to live past 78 for the higher delayed benefit to catch up to the total amount I’d receive by starting earlier. So now I’m leaning toward starting

FROM THE ARTICLE. AARP Condemns U.S. Treasury Secretary’s Comments on Privatizing Social Security.And says it will fight any ‘back door’ efforts to privatize the program.By Emily Paulin, AARP. *** There are 27 comments on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published July 31, 2025. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that the “Trump accounts” created for children in the recently passed federal tax and budget bill are a “back door for privatizing Social Security.” AARP condemned the secretary’s comment that same day and reinforced its strong opposition against any efforts to privatize Social Security.“President Trump has said that Social Security should be protected and strengthened, and his administration needs to be clear: Any form of Social Security privatization is unacceptable,” John Hishta, AARP’s senior vice president of campaigns, said in a statement issued on July 30. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/a

FROM THE ARTICLE. SSA Withdraws Proposed Restrictions on Some Phone Services.The move would have steered more than 3 million customers to field offices to verify identity. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. *** There are 41 comments on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published July 29, 2025. Updated July 31, 2025. Social Security Administration (SSA) has withdrawn its plan to limit telephone access for four routine services, including reporting a change of address to the agency or getting a tax document.In a July 31 filing, the agency said it would make “modifications” to its initial proposal. That original plan would have required beneficiaries who call the agency’s help line for certain services to go to their online My Social Security account, generate a one-time security authorization PIN and relay it to a telephone agent to proceed. Those who do not have an account or are otherwise unable to do business online would have had to go to a local office to

FROM THE ARTICLE. Americans across age groups and party lines view the monthly payments as critical to retirement security. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. *** There are 5 comments on AARP website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published July 22, 2025. As it nears its 90th birthday, Social Security remains overwhelmingly popular among U.S. adults across all age groups and political affiliations, according to a new AARP survey.Ninety-six percent of respondents characterized Social Security as an important program, and 74 percent rated it as one of the most important, up from 68 percent in 2020. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/ssa-trends-survey-90th-anniversary.html

What if there was a way to - help fix the financially ailing Social Security and Medicare Trust Fundsincrease a person’s reported earnings to get a bigger benefit when they get their Social Security benefits increase the money going to the government by income taxes - to reduce the debtIn one swoop, all of this could be taken care of - and it isn’t rocket science. All we have to do is get ride of one of the biggest (maybe even the biggest) tax expenditures we have had since WWII.   What is it, you may ask - Start taxing employer provided health insurance coverage as compensation (like wages)  - which it is! Thoughts?   

FROM THE ARTICLE. SSA to Introduce New Restrictions on Some Phone Services.Agency says move would steer more than 3 million customers to field offices to verify identity. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. *** There are 3 comments on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published July 29, 2025. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is planning to limit telephone access for four routine services, including reporting a change of address to the agency or getting a tax document.The new rule would steer more than 3.4 million customers a year to local Social Security offices for services now fully available by phone, the SSA estimated in a July 18 regulatory filing. If approved by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the change would take effect Aug. 18. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/ssa-new-phone-service-restrictions/

I'm turning 66 in September 2025, and will be 10 months away from my full retirement age. I started taking my retirement benefits in March, but have an opportunity to take a f/t job starting in January - 7 months before my full retirement age. I know the penalty would be $1 off my SS check for every $2 I earn, but my questions are:- does SS look at that new money earned as the amount earned after taxes or is my gross pay counted against my SS payment?- would the employer still be required to take SS payments out of my pay check even though I am retired?- once I hit that full retirement age, and the penalty of my f/t earnings on SS ends, do I get those removed funds from my SS payment over those 7 months back?  Thank you.

I keep seeing news headlines that say things like "Social Security’s New Retirement Age Shocks Future Retirees: Ends Traditional Age in 2026", "US Social Security Retirement Age Raised to 67 Starting 2026—What Does This Mean for You?" or "Social Security’s Full Retirement Age Just Went Up – Here’s How Much It Could Cost Seniors Starting 2025". These seem to make it sound like the current adminstration is changing things, which is 100% WRONG.The "Full retirement age", when you collect your full retirement amount, was 65 for many years. But, in 1983, Congress passed a law to gradually raise the age because people were living longer and were generally healthier at an older age. The law raised the full retirement age beginning with people born in 1938 or later. It was to gradually increase by a few months for every birth year, until it reached 67 for people born in 1960 and later, with an 11 yr hold when it reached 66.So the increase to 67 is NOT a new thing, it was decided on in 1983. Whe