Social Security

Per today's SSA Blog, going forward users must use either an ID.me or a login.gov to log into their SSA account You can still use your username and password for "awhile". And the blog says there are helpful instructions once you log in to set up a new login.gov account (if you already have a login.gov account there's no need to create a new one). See the press release here (https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/#7-2024-1) and the blog here (https://blog.ssa.gov/changes-are-coming-to-how-you-access-social-securitys-online-services/)  (better yet, just Google for this information so you are sure the links are safe. Best practice) I have all three login methods but nowadays I just use ID.me (a private concern). Some time back there were various issues with login.gov on SSA but they seem to be resolved now. I didn't like ID.me because it sent me to a "junk" page where they try to sell stuff. But I eventually realized you can configure things so you don't get sent

Will there be any coverage of the changes to Social Security eligibility/payments because of the changes to WEP/GPO?

The December Social Security benefit is paid in arrears, so payment is in January of the following year. So, for example, in the most recent case, is December's (2022) benefit considered as income, for income tax purposes, for 2022 or 2023?thx!

  Are there many retirees that are concerned about buying health care on the ACA , if the subsidies expire at the end of 2025?   What will happen to people with pre-existing conditions?  How will retired people under 65 with lower incomes afford the premiums without the subsidy?  How will more uninsured older Americans play out in health care?  How will it effect premiums to have less covered people.  Does AARP have a stance on the ACA?  Are you planning to give us some insight into what we can expect in 2026?   Are you interested in those of us between the ages of 55 and 64 who use healthcare.gov to purchase health care.  My state job directed all of it's retiree to the ACA for health care and now I do not know what it's future will become?  Thank you Susan

So what is done is done - Passage of HR 82 happened last nite in the Senate. But now we need more money to come into the Social Security Trust Fund ASAP to help make up for this $ 200 Billion being paid to these involved GPO/WEP workers over the next (10) years So why are these [involved] folks and other citizens not demanding that ALL State and Local Government Employers/Employees be required to participate within the Social Security System? I mean why not get BOTH retirement offerings like others do? Wouldn’t that make them even happier? If this had been required way back in the 80’s when the Federal government changed their offerings, we would not have this problem now. I am so angry, I could spit - the next thing you know, we are gonna have widows and widowers applying to get both their own benefits AND that of their deceased spouse or some such lunacy. This legislation did not go thru all the committees for evaluation - not in the House nor in the Senate -

It’s been 40 years since the social security tax was imposed back in 1984. And the AARP has done nothing to repeal that tax. That seems like it should have been a year after year priority with election targeting of which congress persons failed to support the repeal of the tax.Luckily, the Trump administration has promised to finally repeal it. Though I doubt it will actually happen. It didn't during his 2016 term. So ultimately, the AARP needs to show its value by creating a campaign targeting members of congress who do not 100% commit to removing the tax. Did you know the income levels where the tax kicks in are not indexed for inflation?  The government very slyly found a way to erode your benefits. The $34,000 income threshold was set back in 1984, would be about $100,000 in today’s dollars. Meaning you would pay no Social Security tax until your income exceeded $100,000 for a married couple filing jointly.See this youtube video that explains it quite well:https://www.you

  I lived in Costa Rica for 20 years (thinking I would live there forever) but returned to the US when my health declined and it was impossible for me to continue to live alone.  I  began receiving Social Security benefits while living in Costa Rica but opted out of Medicare Part B because I was covered by the National Health coverage plan there.   Now, Medicare wants to charge me penalties that, with the current premium, would be almost half of my monthly benefit. Has anyone had this experience or does anyone know how to deal with this?  I have read that if you lived in a foreign country and were self-employed and had the National Health coverage, you wouldn't have to pay the penalty.  Any ideas? Thanks for any help.  

As the title implies, I started receiving a survival benefit on my wife's record when I was 60 years old.  I am fairly clear that I can switch over to my own benefit any time after age 62.  I am currently 67 and plan to wait for age 70.  My question is: If I am receiving a reduced survivors benefit, will that affect my Social Security benefit and amount?  BTW, yes, I have been all over the web looking for a concise answer to that question.  Many thanks in advance!

He said that Social Security won't be federally taxed.... 

I filled out an application online for SS earlier this month.  Today I received a letter from SSA saying  a transaction was recently attempted with my name and information. I am to call 855 249 4175 to speak with Mrs. Agamao .  If they do not hear from me within 10 days of the letter they will not process my transaction.    The letter is from Salinas .ca.  When I Google the number to ssa  in Salinas, the above number does not match.   Is this letter etc legitimate and I'm worried about nothing?  Thanks:)

 I just retired and I have just signed up for Medicare Part B. Since I was working when I became eligible for Part A, I signed up for Part B well after Part A. I signed up to coincide with my retirement, October 1st - that is, at the beginning of the fourth quarter of this year. Since I have not yet started collecting my Social Security benefits, I am being billed QUARTLY for my Part B. Since I am starting at the beginning of a quarter, and since a quarter is four months, I expected the bill to be for the three months of OCT, NOV, and DEC. The first QURTLY bill has just arrived... surprise! it's for FOUR months, OCT, NOV, DEC and JANNUARY of next year! Looking on line, I've found instances of folks questioning why their supposedly quarterly bill is for four or five months, instead of the expected three. The "go to" answer seems to be to get the billing cycle lined up with the calendar year: JAN, APR, JUL, OCT. But my cycle was already so aligned, so four months misaligns

My wife will reach FRA 6/2025 she will draw on my earning history. Will she be qualified for 1/2 what my SS payment was in 2019 or will it be adjusted for COLAs that have taken  place since that time?

My mom is 87 and she lost her husband 2 years ago.  She is not tech saavy and received no letter from SS so she did nothing about claiming spousal benefits.  When I assisted her to put in the claim, SS gave her the one time death benefit and six months of back spousal benefits.   Shouldn't she be entitled to spousal benefits going back to the time of his death?  She was unaware.  She is 85.  She received no letter from then which they concurred.   I filed a reconsideration on her behalf and it is now more than six months waiting for an answer.  Every time I call I'm told, they are "working on it".  What is my recourse.  Mom is 87 and really could use the funds to live!

My wife is 5 years older than me. If she starts taking her SS at her full age, it will be around $900/month.  When I retire and take SS at my full age, half of it will be around $1800/month.  Can my wife take her $900/month until I take mine and then get the increase to half of mine?  Thanks

2025 COLA Adjustment AnnouncedSSA.gov. 2025 COLA Adjustment & Other Related Income Amounts Announcement  from the link:Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025.The 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2024. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits) The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $176,100. The earnings limit for workers who are younger than "full" retirement age (see Full Retirement Age Chart) will increase to $23,400. (We deduct $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $23,400.) The earnings limit for people reaching their “full” retirement age in 2025 will increase to $62,160. (We de

 My plan was to wait until age 70 to collect my Social Security benefits based on getting an extra 8% per year for delaying. The figures shown on the Social Security web site don't line up with this. I am currently 68 years and 4 months old. The Social Security benefit estimator shows that if I retire in Jan 2024 I would receive $3851, in Jan 2025 $4113 and in Sep 2025 $4288. Taking the Jan 2024 figure of $3851 and multiplying by 1.08 yields $4159 (vs the estimate shown online of $4113 for Jan 2025). Taking the Jan 2025 figure of $4113 and multiplying by 1.0533328 (8 months at .0066666 increase per month) yields $4332 (vs the estimate shown online of $4288 for Sep 2025). What am I missing here? This seems like it should be pretty basic math. The actual figure seems to be 6.8% rather than 8%

  Has anyone experienced problems with logging in to MySSA?  Can anyone explain Login.gov, ID.me and MySSA logins.  Which one is the best to use and how are these different logins related.  

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Social Security COLA 2025: How Much Will Payments Increase Next Year? With inflation cooling, analysts estimate benefit boost could come in a bit under 3%. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published August 14, 2024. The first of three numbers the Social Security Administration (SSA) will use to determine the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is in, and it points to a more modest increase in monthly benefit payments next year. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose by 2.9 percent in July compared to a year ago. The COLA is based on how much that federal inflation gauge changes in July, August and September from one year to the next. The final figure for 2025 will be announced in October. https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/info-2024/cola-estimate-2025.html

Hi. My mother's husband started collecting her social security after she died 6 years ago.Recently a previous husband she is divorced from 50 years ago is now trying to file for 1/2 her social security benefits as they were married greater than 10 years. Can he collect without interfering with the widowed spouses collection? Are they both eligible?Thank you.

I am currently working and have my health insurance thru my employer.  we are a large employer.  I never got part A or B.   When should I start the process with SSA?  Medicare?  I will be 69 1/2 when I retire.

My wife and I started Medicare Plan B on January 1, 2024.  we received a bill for four months of premiums, which we paid in full.  My wife decided just after January 1, to start Social Security. We received an autopayment  at the end of January.  Here is the shocker.  Even though we paid for FOUR months of PLAN B, Medicare deducted another payment for Plan B for January.  In my book, that is double billing.  I called the Medicare office and they said we had to wait 6 months before they will pay back the 4 months of potential overbilling.  In private business, this would be unacceptable. We want plan B but we cannot afford to be double billed for it, and we certainly cannot wait 6 months for them to correct a problem that they created.  I put it on a credit card. I am assuming that I could run a chargeback against it. How should I approach this, so I am not overbilled?

i am 78, receive $1300 in ssi. i am not on disability. how much can i keep in bank account?

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Logging in to Your Social Security Account? You May Find a Surprise. SSA sign-in change will affect millions of My Social Security users. ▶️*** By  Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published July 17, 2024. ***◀️ Millions of people who access Social Security services and track their benefits online will soon need to change their login procedure to continue using their My Social Security accounts. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced July 12 that users who established accounts before Sept. 18, 2021, using a now-defunct sign-up method will be required to transition those accounts to Login.gov, a secure sign-in service administered by the federal government. https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/info-2024/ssa-sign-in-change.html

We Need changes now for Social Security. They have been kicking the can down the road to long. This is not "Charity".  We need a New calculation for COLA.  This next year 2025, You will be paying another $ 10.00 or more for Medicare.  It adds up quick, not to mention increased price for ER visits, Specialist visits.  Seeing a regular M.D. ??  I doubt it. You mostly see a P.A., NP, or FNP.  They are fine. But they are not Doctors. People will say, Well You should have saved more for retirement. Really ?  Mine got wiped out as many others in the last crash.  If Billion's are given to Countries that despise Us, We should be able to help Seniors to at least live.  All We get from the Government is talk. Elise Stefanik is My Congress Woman. Her office does not call back. I've emailed Her many times, and have gotten a " Pre-Prepared form letter. Really ?  She is a ladder climber.  Politicians promises are gone with the wind. AARP needs t

 I retired in May of 2022 at 69+2 two month which should have given me 25.3 delayed credits birthday being 3/1953 however I only received 22.7 credits witch put my credits back to January 2022 I was told that it would be recalculated and I would receive the other 2.6 credits and any benefits owed from January 2023. Well it’s been 1 year 11 months and still no recalculation. Tried to contact social security and I’m getting the run around would seem no one I speak to knows anything about withholding delayed credits I guess my next step will be to go to my local legislator office to see if I can get help there.  Since no one is in the local social security office and hasn’t been since the start of covid. Anyone else having this trouble?