Making smart decisions about is it better to claim social security early or wait until full retirement age requires understanding how various factors interact. Retirement planning involves coordinating multiple income sources, managing risks, and making decisions that will affect your…
Making smart decisions about how much money do you lose by claiming social security at 62 instead of 67 requires understanding how various factors interact. Retirement planning involves coordinating multiple income sources, managing risks, and making decisions that will affect…
About 65% of initial Social Security disability applications get denied. That number sounds discouraging until you learn that roughly half of those denials are overturned on appeal. The system is designed to say no first and let you prove your…
If you spent part of your career in a government job or other position that didn’t pay into Social Security, the Windfall Elimination Provision will probably reduce your Social Security benefit. For some people, the reduction is modest — $50…
The SSA has a free online calculator that estimates your benefit at ages 62, 67, and 70. It takes about five minutes to set up, and the number it spits out is based on your actual earnings history — not…
When an employer files for bankruptcy, employees and retirees immediately worry about their pension. That worry is justified but often worse than reality — at least for private-sector workers covered by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. The PBGC exists specifically…
Working after you start collecting Social Security isn’t just allowed — about 20% of Americans over 65 do it. But the financial mechanics aren’t always intuitive. Depending on your age, your earnings can temporarily reduce your Social Security check, increase…
Yes, you can collect a pension and Social Security at the same time. Millions of retirees do exactly that. But depending on the type of pension and whether you paid Social Security taxes during those working years, your Social Security…
Divorce changes your finances in ways that are obvious — splitting assets, adjusting to one income — and in ways most people never think about. Social Security spousal benefits fall squarely in the second category. Many divorced people have no…
There’s no single right answer to when you should start Social Security, but there are plenty of wrong ones. Filing at 62 because “I might not live long enough” is a guess, not a strategy. Waiting until 70 because “bigger…