Social Security

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Don’t get too excited - this really isn’t about fixing anything - CBS News - 07/14/2026 - Senators introduce bipartisan plan to tackle Social Security insolvency  from the link ~The legislation, called the Promise Act, would not itself raise taxes, reduce benefits or change eligibility. Instead, it would direct the bipartisan, seven-member Social Security Advisory Board to draft a bill, informed by public input, to keep the program's trust funds solvent for at least the next 50 years. That is really all that was new in the article - the rest was rinse and repeat - And it seems some that are making this proposal aren’t even gonna be around to see what happens since they are leaving the Senate one way or the other. That must be the only place they can find the “bipartisanship”and this has been suggested before and we have had numerous commissions set up to do the same thing under various administrations -  I think this must be a JOKE -  &

claiming Social Security early has a benefit that is rarely discussed. The combined annual benefit for my wife and I is about $45,000. Drawing this amount instead of withdrawing this from our IRA, allowing this amount to grow within the IRA. If invested in an S&P 500 ETF, this has earned roughly 15% each year for the past 3 years. In addition, the COLA has been 8.7% in 2023, 3.2% in 2024, and 2.5% in 2025. The ability to keep the equivalent amount of SS payments invested should be a consideration in everyone’s decision for when to claim early vs waiting to claim SS at full retirement age. My breakeven for claiming early is around 90 years of age, due to the investment returns… my recommendation is to claim early and stay invested!!!

Hello everyone,1- Is it possible to get a transcript of the Video ?2-I am collecting. Social Security already, my wife has turned 65 and was exploring the spousal benefit.My question:If my wife takes her Spousal Benefit now ( 65 years and 2 months), can she claim her Full Retirement Age Benefit at 67, which will. be higher than the Spousal Benefit she will get, or, Since she took Spousal benefit at 65 years and 2 months, she will be "stuck" with that amount even when she attains Full Retirement Age ?Thanks for the inputs and insightsRao

I am 57 years old and still working full time,  living on my own. My sister is 54, in poor health, and lives with my mom. Our mother is soon to turn 81, in reasonably good health, or at least has way less medical issues than her youngest daughter. Are there any benefits from SSI or anywhere for my mother, since she is caring for her child, or are caregiver benefits only for children caring for aging parents? Who would be a good source to even ask?

This is the summary - the full report can be accessed by the link on the top or left of the page. Offered without comment. 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustee Report Summary   

My wife and I are both retired, both upper 60’s, and both have SSI accounts, but haven’t started taking them yet. I’m reasonably healthy, but she is too, and statistically, she’s likely to outlive me. My proposed benefit payment is considerably more than hers. I wasn’t going to start taking benefits until I had to (ie 70 1/2 currently?), since we are fairly comfortable financially, and my benefit will increase if we wait. Also, our understanding is that if I die first, as a surviving spouse she gets to receive my benefit…but not *both* mine and hers. So we’re thinking, in a practical sense, we maybe should have her start taking her benefit now, since if if I get hit by a truck next year, at that point she effectively loses her benefit (and switches to mine). Does that make sense? Do we have our facts right?

 I'm having problems with Login.gov account when I try to log in to Social Security. I get the run around when I start the ID myself and I am told my cell phone number does not exist. My old landline number I no longer have but haven't found a way to delete it. There are ways to add phone numbers but apparently no way to delete my old number. Has anyone had problems trying to ID yourself so you can get to your Social Security account?

Everyone might want to read this recent editorial from MarketWatch and Morningstar here - - https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/2026031757/social-security-benefit-cuts-are-coming-and-they-will-hit-current-retirees-hard.  A 1960 Supreme Court ruling in Fleming vs. Nestor established the principle that entitlement to Social Security benefits is NOT a contractual right.  The Court based its decision on section 1104 of the 1935 Social Security Act, entitled "RESERVATION OF POWER", which specifically states, "The right to alter, amend or repeal any provision of this Act is hereby reserved to the Congress."  While some might think that this reservation is unconstitutional, the above Supreme Court ruling settled this issue in Fleming vs. Nestor.  Denying or wholly removing benefits is neither unconstitutional nor an entitlement.  The Supreme Court ruling here - https://www.ssa.gov/history/nestor.html  While it's true, according to the SSA

Six weeks ago I enrolled for my social security. Its been over six weeks and all I have received is an email on the day after I enrolled saying someone looked at my submittal.  I cannot find anyway to check on the status. Any thoughts?S. S. 

My friends received ssi disability and his parent is the payee representative for 4-5 years.- Since being the payee representative they never lived together (parent lives hours away) (red state)- parent doesn’t provide any food/shelter- parent has been giving only partial payment (payment method is the same always thru money services)- parent tells him ssa has a rules so he need to keep the rest (I heard that conversation on the phone when- parent never provided ssa benefit statement when asked- friend is sort of homeless for long time as he stays with different friends.- the address on ssa file is family address that is just used for getting mail (maybe the dad tell them she stays there but it’s not the truth)My friend has hard time grasping money and basic mathematics so easy to trick him I guess.I have been telling my friend for long time to make the call to ssa to report the misuse of the funds. Not sure if anything will happen.Recently I logged into the ssa account and saw large p

My 62 year old wife is being treated for  stage three breast cancer, and she is currently receiving care via Medicaid.  She does not have any income of her own, she is not now receiving any Social Security benefits, and as of the moment, our only source of money are my Social Security Disability Benefits, which are around $2,000 a month.  Also, I'm 64 years old. We are wondering if my wife can apply for Social Security early due to her cancer diagnosis, and due to the fact that she is unable to work.  Also, if she begins receiving Social Security in the near future, how would that effect her Medicaid benefits, and is there a chance that her medical benefits could be interrupted or stopped during her cancer treatment.  We are in a very very tight place financially, but I'm afraid to make any moves which might jeopardize her medical care.  Also, I have tried reaching out to several non profits who provide cancer support, but so far the only thing I

I started Medicare at age 65. I waited to take Social Security until my Full Retirement age. I am required to paid quarterly payments for the Medicare Premium, (this before reaching Full Retirement age). My Notice of Award for my Social Security Benefit shows that Medicare Premiums will be automatically deducted from each month's benefit payment. The problem is I will be paying the Medicare Premium twice for the month of May. After that, no problem and I want the automatic deduction. My Social Security Benefit starts in May. The Notice of Award clearly itemizes the deduction of the Medicare Premium for this first benefit payment. However, my last quarterly payment for the Medicare Premium includes the premium for May. Thus, I'm paying twice. How do I fix this? Calling my local Social Security office is met with the sound of crickets chirping. Is there a way to fix this from within my online social security account? Or, will this get corrected automatically? If it is expected

From what I’ve read it’s my understanding if I claim a SS Survivors benefit the amount is based on a percentage of my spouse’s SS benefit at age 67 (FRA).  If I claim the benefit at age 60 it would be approximately 70% of my spouse’s FRA benefit. If I wait until I’m 61 the percentage would increase. This will continue until I reach my FRA.  My question is as I wait to claim a SS survivors benefit will my spouse’s FRA benefit increase every year based on SS COLA? 

My wife is a retired teacher since 2014. The school system does not pay into Social Security. She retired 10 years ago and has been paying her Medicare premium through bank withdrawals. Now, 10 years later, the Social Security sent us a letter stating that we owe them about $20k. They did not provide an itemized statement showing how they calculated the $20k. I called Social Security and they said to call Medicare to provide an itemized statement and when I call Medicare they state that Social Security is government agency that handles the Medicare payments by deducting from her social security payments. No one has the information I request. The situation is that since she does not get Social Security, she was paying with bank withdrawals. Bottom line, we cant find anyone that can show us how they calculated that we owe them money. After calling several times all l get is finger pointing between agencies but no resolution. I even filed an appeal about 6 weeks ago and did not receive an

 There was a Senate hearing yesterday on Senate Budget Committee Examines Social Security SolvencyYou can watch / read /listen to it all on CPAN 2 at this link - https://www.c-span.org/program/senate-committee/senate-budget-committee-examines-social-security-solvency/676234  They seemed to have touched on it all.   Enjoy !

Does anyone know who is the face of AARP? AARP is designed to be an interest group for americans  age of fifty and older. I have been a mber for around ten years yet I have no idea how to contact AARP executives or know what their priorities are? Social Security is a top priority for most of us but I have never seen an AARP representative on the news communicating our goal and interest. Why?  If anyone knows how we can find out what the AARP leaders priorities are for 2025 or how to reach out to them I would appreciate it. Below is some information I found online but know way to message them. AARP CEO: Dr. Myechia Minter-JordanSubsidiaries     AARP FoundationAARP Services IncLegal Counsel for the ElderlyOATS/Senior PlanetWish of a LifetimeAARP Board of Directorshttps://www.aarp.org › about-aarp › board-of-directorsLloyd E. Johnson - Board ChairMargot James CopelandRobert BlancatoJoseph F. CoughlinJeffrey D. DunnBeth EllardRosanna A

Once again this week, I am seeing individual beneficiaries living in a marriage, each with their own benefits, being devastated financially when one of them dies. I do not know where they get the idea that the living spouse will get both benefits - THEY DO NOT - the living spouse will receive a Survivors benefit that equals the higher of the two benefits.  That still means that the sum of the Survivor receives is less than the (2) individual benefits which they got before the death of their spouse. This could mean the loss of several hundreds of dollars a month.  If the couple is living on a very tight budget, this loss of income could result in unintended consequences - So, please do a bit of planning if you think this situation might affect you.  

I can follow through with either of the 2 scenarios, just trying to figure out which is best, as I cannot find an exact answer on the SS site.I am 67 1/2, past my full retirement age, I will be working for at least 1 more year earning SS wages. If I do not claim my SS for another year, is it correct to say that it will increase by 8%, plus whatever extra I make on my SS wages.The other scenario is if I claim my SS now, and still work at my full time job for another year. After a year, my SS will only adjust for the SS wages i put in for the year.So, does that mean the only difference will be the 8% that the SS department adds for not claiming a year?Thanks.

  I just applied for my for my age 70 benefit. Starting in February. This should be the ultimate stress test! After the nightmare of Army Benefit Center totally butchering my High 3 calculation, and then failing to send my retirement package to OPM & DFAS for several months- what could go wrong???Wish me luck! 

FROM THE ARTICLE. 8 Numbers That Tell the Story of Social Security.How more than 69 million Americans came to rely on the program — and why it’s now in trouble. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Reviewed by Joel Eskovitz, AARP. Published August 06, 2025. Social Security has always been about numbers, ever since it was established 90 years ago this month by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signature on a historic act of Congress.You work 10 years, earn 40 Social Security credits, and you are eligible for benefits when you retire. A complex mathematical formula determines how much you’ll get each month. A 12.4 payroll tax on almost all U.S. workers’ income provides the funding that keeps benefits flowing to (as of June 2025) more than 69 million Americans. A unique nine-digit code assigned to each of us keeps it all straight. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/ssa-by-the-numbers/

Anyone encounter this question? We're getting mixed answers from various sources. My 63-year-old partner (we're not married) could start receiving SS on her ex-husband's SS. It would be a reduced amount because she is not at her full retirement age. Is she then "locked" into that reduced percentage the rest of her life because she started early, before her own full retirement age? What if in 5 years she and I get married and she starts claiming on my SS......would it be reduced percentage because she started her claim at 63? Thanks!

My daughter in law says she heard that Social security is going to cut our checks by 70% this year and that Trump is going to cancel it with in a couple of years. I want to know if this is a possibility or not. I can't live with out my check. Please let me know if this is true.Thank you Sharonsharonstartrek@aol.com

FROM THE ARTICLE. House Passes Bill to Boost Social Security’s Customer Service Budget. Measure headed to Senate also calls on agency to avoid closing field offices. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. Published January 23, 2026. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a major spending bill on Jan. 22 that would give the Social Security Administration (SSA) an additional $50 million for customer service for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, which runs through Sept. 30. The bill now heads to the Senate. It must be approved by both houses of Congress and signed by President Donald Trump by Jan. 30 to avert another government shutdown. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/customer-service-budget-bill/

My spouse recently died at age 72. I’m 75, but receive a lower SS benefit than her because I retired early to take care of her. Am I entitled to receive any of her SS benefits in addition to my own? If yes, what percentage, and how do I apply for these benefits? (The month of her death, January, 2026, SS placed her regular benefit amount in our checking account as it normally does, but then withdrew the full amount one day later). Thank you for your help!