INSIDER
Millions of people may get expanded Social Security benefits. Who are they and how would it happen?
Read full article: Millions of people may get expanded Social Security benefits. Who are they and how would it happen?Nearly 3 million people could receive a boost in Social Security payments under legislation that's set for a final vote in the Senate.
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Read full article: Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of peopleThe Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people.
What to know about the House push to expand some Social Security benefits
Read full article: What to know about the House push to expand some Social Security benefitsThe House is expected to try next week to pass a Social Security-related bill to ensure benefits for workers who are also eligible for other pensions.
What to know about this year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustment
Read full article: What to know about this year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustmentTens of millions of older Americans will see a 2.5% increase in benefits this January when a new cost-of-living adjustment is added to Social Security payments.
Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025, smaller than in recent past
Read full article: Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025, smaller than in recent pastMillions of retirees who receive Social Security benefits will see a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January.
Social Security's scheduled cost of living increase 'won't make a dent' for some retirees
Read full article: Social Security's scheduled cost of living increase 'won't make a dent' for some retireesSocial Security recipients are expected to receive a smaller cost-of-living increase in January than in recent years as inflation moderates.
Tips, overtime, Social Security: A look at Donald Trump's no-tax pledges and what they might cost
Read full article: Tips, overtime, Social Security: A look at Donald Trump's no-tax pledges and what they might costDonald Trump has pledged to end taxes on everything from tips to Social Security and overtime pay if he’s elected to the White House again.
An appeals court has revived a challenge to President Biden's Medicare drug price reduction program
Read full article: An appeals court has revived a challenge to President Biden's Medicare drug price reduction programA constitutional challenge to the Biden administration program enabling Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs has been revived by a federal appeals court.
Beyond 'childless cat ladies,' JD Vance has long been on a quest to encourage more births
Read full article: Beyond 'childless cat ladies,' JD Vance has long been on a quest to encourage more birthsJD Vance repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates as he launched his political career with a bid for the U.S. Senate in Ohio.
Key senators reach agreement on spending levels for next year, setting up clash with House
Read full article: Key senators reach agreement on spending levels for next year, setting up clash with HouseThe Senate will pursue a spending increase next year of about 3.4% for defense and 2.7% increase for non-defense programs under a bipartisan agreement reached by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
7 important questions about applying for and receiving disability, answered by an attorney
Read full article: 7 important questions about applying for and receiving disability, answered by an attorneyIf you find yourself in a situation where you think it could be time to file for disability, you will probably have plenty of questions, many of which don’t have simple answers.
For decades, states have taken foster children's federal benefits. That's starting to change
Read full article: For decades, states have taken foster children's federal benefits. That's starting to changeStates have for decades been using foster children's federal Social Security benefits to help cover the costs of state services.
Uncharted territory: Do you qualify for long COVID disability benefits?
Read full article: Uncharted territory: Do you qualify for long COVID disability benefits?While many people who develop COVID-19 have mild symptoms that resolve in a few days, there are sufferers -- often called COVID long haulers -- who experience effects for anywhere from weeks to even months after the virus has left their bodies.
The federal debt tops $34 trillion and some in Congress want a commission to find ways to tackle it
Read full article: The federal debt tops $34 trillion and some in Congress want a commission to find ways to tackle itA bill to create a bipartisan commission that would tackle the nation’s soaring debt and make policy recommendations to Congress has won approval from a House committee.
What to know about the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment
Read full article: What to know about the Social Security cost-of-living adjustmentTens of millions of older Americans will see a modest increase in benefits in January when a new cost-of-living adjustment is added to Social Security payments.
Social Security benefits will increase by 3.2% in 2024 as inflation moderates
Read full article: Social Security benefits will increase by 3.2% in 2024 as inflation moderatesThe acting Social Security commissioner says a 3_2% increase in benefits next year “will help millions of people keep up with expenses."
Debt limit deal is in place, but budget deficit is still a multi-decade challenge for US government
Read full article: Debt limit deal is in place, but budget deficit is still a multi-decade challenge for US governmentEven with new spending restraints included in the congressional debt limit deal, the U.S. government’s deficits are still on course to keep climbing to record levels over the next few decades.
Most oppose Social Security, Medicare cuts: AP-NORC poll
Read full article: Most oppose Social Security, Medicare cuts: AP-NORC pollAmericans are deeply opposed to cutting into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and most support raising taxes on the nation’s highest earners to keep Medicare running as is.
Medicare, Social Security could fall short over next decade
Read full article: Medicare, Social Security could fall short over next decadeAn annual report on Social Security and Medicare says the financial safety nets millions of older Americans rely on and millions more young people are counting on will run short on funds to pay full benefits within the next decade.
Poll: Cut federal spending — but not big-ticket programs
Read full article: Poll: Cut federal spending — but not big-ticket programsIn the federal budget standoff, the majority of U.S. adults are asking lawmakers to pull off the impossible: Cut the overall size of government, but also devote more money to the most popular and expensive programs.
Haley wants entitlement program changes for younger people
Read full article: Haley wants entitlement program changes for younger peopleRepublican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is proposing changes to entitlement programs for younger generations, opening the door to potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare if elected.
Biden warns of GOP plans for Medicare, Social Security cuts
Read full article: Biden warns of GOP plans for Medicare, Social Security cutsWhen President Joe Biden suggested that Republicans want to slash Medicare and Social Security it brought howls of protests from the GOP side of the aisle during the State of the Union address.
Social Security boost seen as unlikely to help Dems at polls
Read full article: Social Security boost seen as unlikely to help Dems at pollsThe news that 70 million people will see an 8.7% boost in their Social Security checks next year came just weeks before Election Day, but it's unlikely to give Democrats the edge they're desperately seeking at the polls.
How Social Security works and what to know about its future
Read full article: How Social Security works and what to know about its futureTens of millions of older Americans will see a major increase in benefits this January when a new cost-of-living adjustment (or COLA) is added to Social Security payments.
Go-broke dates pushed back for Social Security, Medicare
Read full article: Go-broke dates pushed back for Social Security, MedicareA stronger-than-expected economic recovery from the pandemic has pushed back the go-broke dates for Social Security and Medicare, but officials warn that the current economic turbulence is putting additional pressures on the bedrock retirement programs.
COVID recession pushed Social Security insolvency up a year
Read full article: COVID recession pushed Social Security insolvency up a yearThe sharp shock of the coronavirus recession pushed Social Security a year closer to insolvency but left Medicare’s exhaustion date unchanged, the government reported Tuesday.
Taxes: Answers to top FAQs about Social Security income
Read full article: Taxes: Answers to top FAQs about Social Security incomeEven for those of us who think we have some knowledge about anything tax related, it can be a stressful time. And it's certainly not a time when you want to play a guessing game.
Retiree checks to rise 1.3% in 2021 amid coronavirus fallout
Read full article: Retiree checks to rise 1.3% in 2021 amid coronavirus falloutWASHINGTON – Social Security recipients will get a modest 1.3% cost-of living-increase in 2021, but that might be small comfort amid worries about the coronavirus and its consequences for older people. The economic fallout from the virus has reduced tax collections for Social Security and Medicare, likely worsening their long-term financial condition. The former vice president would raise Social Security taxes by applying the payroll tax to earnings above $400,000 a year. That amount generally increases, so at least some of any additional Social Security raise goes to health care premiums. That prompted Congress to pass recent election-year legislation that limits next year’s premium increase but gradually collects the full amount later on under a repayment mechanism.
Social security recipients will NOT need to file a tax return to get a stimulus check
Read full article: Social security recipients will NOT need to file a tax return to get a stimulus checkROANOKE, VA. – The IRS has reversed its decision requiring those on social security to file tax returns in order to receive a stimulus check. Now, they will not have to file a return to receive the money the government is sending out automatically to most people. “We want to make sure these direct deposit payments to Virginians get out with the least amount of bureaucracy as possible. The idea that folks on social security were going to have to go through and file a form made no sense,” said Warner. Social security recipients with direct deposit will have the money automatically deposited into their accounts, others will be mailed a check.
Scammers pose as Medicare, offering 'free' DNA kits to seniors
Read full article: Scammers pose as Medicare, offering 'free' DNA kits to seniorsMONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. - The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is warning seniors to watch out for a potential government imposter scam. The Federal Trade Commission has received reports of callers claiming to be from Medicare asking people for their Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers and other personal information in exchange for "free" DNA testing kits. Companies are targeting people at senior centers, housing complexes and other community locations to promote "free" genetic testing, cancer screenings or DNA testing. In this scam, the targeted seniors are told that these tests will be covered by Medicare. The FTC is reminding consumers that Medicare does not market DNA testing kits to the general public.
FTC reports sharp increase in phone scams
Read full article: FTC reports sharp increase in phone scamsAmericans have forfeited at least $450 million this way to government impostor scams since 2014, the FTC said and that only counts the victims regulators know about. Government impostors became the number one source of FTC complaints and now account for the lion's share of impostor scams overall. "Toward the fall, we started to see these scams really, really pick up." Thousands of consumers who reported the scam this year told the FTC they lost money. Last week, the FTC, Justice Department, and various states and local authorities brought nearly 100 cases against alleged robocallers.
Social Security & Tax Breaks
Read full article: Social Security & Tax BreaksFiguring out what you owe can be complicated, here is some information to understand what is taxable under Social Security. Social Security is taxable at three different levels, based upon how much other income you have and your income tax filing status. This is 50% of your household Social Security benefits plus all of your other taxable income, plus any tax-free income. These breakpoints are the same if your filing status is Married Filing Separately and the couple does not live together during the tax year. If your Provisional Income (defined above) is less than the first breakpoint based on your filing status, then none of your Social Security is taxable.