Many people think that when a spouse dies, the surviving spouse will get their own Social Security plus an extra survivor payment. That’s not true. Social security survivor benefits after spouse dies replace your current benefit with the higher one between the two – not both. This rule often surprises families and can cause a sharp […]
Social Security Benefits After Spouse Dies: What you need to know Read More »
The Social Security Administration has announced the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). After a short delay caused by the government shutdown, the final numbers are in.Starting with January 2026 benefits (paid in late December 2025), Social Security payments will increase by 2.8%. That’s about $56 more per month for average retirees and $88 more for couples. The raise is slightly above last
2026 Social Security COLA Announced: 2.8% Raise for Retirees Read More »
The 2025 Social Security Trustees Report is out—and headlines are sounding the alarm. The combined Social Security Trust Fund is now projected to run out in 2034, a year earlier than last year’s forecast. This has sparked fears of a Social Security collapse. But are these fears grounded in reality? In this post, we’ll break down what the 2025 report actually
Social Security’s Financial Outlook: Problems, Myths, and Possible Fixes Read More »
In this post, we’ll dive into how couples can make the most of their Social Security (SS) spousal benefits—a topic that can feel a little confusing at first but makes a big difference over time. First, the basics: For example, let’s take a married couple John and Jane. John’s benefit at FRA is $2,000. Jane
How Smart Couples Maximize Their Social Security Benefits Read More »
“I thought I was supposed to get 50% of my spouse’s Social Security benefits… why am I getting less?”If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you’re not alone. Many people are surprised—and even frustrated—when their spousal benefit ends up being less than expected. The truth is, while the idea of spousal benefits sounds straightforward, the reality is
Why Spousal Social Security Benefits Are Sometimes Less Than 50% Read More »
Important Updates from the Social Security Administration (SSA) – 2025 Since early 2025, news about the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) new Identification Verification (IDV) procedures has caused confusion. SSA first announced changes to the retirement benefits application process, then reversed some of them on the day they were set to start. This created widespread uncertainty.
Social Security 2025 Updates: New ID Verification Rules and Payment Schedule Changes Read More »
Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about Social Security, including a proposal to eliminate taxes on benefits. While this sounds appealing, an analysis by the University of Pennsylvania warns that doing so could reduce federal revenue by $1.5 trillion over the next decade, increasing national debt and accelerating Social Security’s depletion by two
Understanding Taxes on social security benefits Read More »
Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, signed by President Biden on January 5, 2025, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
3 million Americans who were affected by WEB/GPO will receive a higher Social Security Benefits!
Social Security: WEP & GPO repealed Read More »