Money

Hello, I need help decoding a “letter of intent” I signed to give insurance money to a roofer. Can I ask here or is there another place? Ugh, I know, why did I sign it in the first place?  Sorry, long post! The company has an A+ rating with the BBB, excellent reviews (from people with new roofs paid for by insurance) and they’re rated 2nd best in the area, down a notch from last year. They sounded legit, and they knew all the buzz words like “flashing” and “mold remediation”. I’ve never made a claim on a homeowner policy and this is my 3rd home. But, the roofer with 2 public adjusters, a necessity they claimed, assured me insurance would pay for the damages because I had a claim. These roofers likely knew my insurance wouldn’t cover the replacement given the roof’s age. However they warned me against calling my carrier saying they’ll cancel my policy. That felt so scammy to me. But, They claimed that was happening to people and sent me hour+ long videos of Congress

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 🙂

With the 6000.00 tax break for seniors should I convert 6000.00 from my traditional IRA to my Roth IRA

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?

  If Consumer Cellular is not on the FRAUD LIST, they should be.Check your bill people,they have changed your plan without notice,they are also now adding a $5 charge if you do not sign up for direct pay, again with no notice,(even if you have never ever been late to pay)if you go over their "DATA LIMITS" (another rip off btw, nothing but a money grab) they move you to a more expensive plan ... but will not move you back to your previous plan even if it was a one timer, if you do not personally do it you keep paying the new higher rate.I am sure there is a serious amount of money that AARP receives from Consumer Cellular,but AARP,  if you say you advocate for seniors don't be a hypocrite, they are so dirty and literally taking money by the handful from people. I feel SO much better since I cancelled them!AARP you won't cut them loose, so I will not be renewing.Geo 

Horrible company. They advertise $55 for 2 lines for AARP members. I was told taxes & fees are included in that amount. But I received a bill for $70.63. When I called they said 15.63 is for taxes & fees.I cancelled my account. It was 4 days into new month & they are telling me that I have to pay for the full month even though I am no longer using their plan! No pro rate billing. FTC should look into this & stop their robbery. AARP should stop sponcering them.

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

Discussion created on April 18, 2021.Stop by to read our comments and/or add a comment.We luv hearing from you!Lol, cute .gif of an old lady driving with her dog looking petrified is attached to this post!! 🤣😂 Poor furbaby. 😞  

 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

I am considering retiring at somewhere between 59.5 and 62.  I am considering the possibility of part time work.  My full retirement age (FRA) is apparently at 67 and my maximum benefit would be at age 70.  I have not seen any  information saying this is not possible, but I feel like I am missing something. Is there any restriction or disadvantage to this approach? 

FROM THE ARTICLE. Is Now a Bad Time to Downsize?Consider these pros and cons before moving to a smaller home in today’s market. By Cameron Huddleston, AARP. Published July 23, 2025. Downsizing to a smaller home, condominium or apartment shortly before or in retirement can reduce your housing costs, free up cash and lessen the burden of home maintenance. But many older adults aren’t eager to move.A May survey by real estate company Redfin found that 1 in 3 boomers who own their homes say they’ll never sell. Another 30 percent said they don’t plan to sell within the next decade. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/downsize-home-in-retirement.html