Social Security

Don’t Get Hit With This Medicare Surcharge
Social Security

Don’t Get Hit With This Medicare Surcharge

Heather Schreiber, RICP, NSSA | March 12, 2024

Most higher-earning seniors know they have to pay taxes on their Social Security benefits. But they may not know that…

The Social Security Lump-Sum Option Has a Big Gotcha
Social Security

The Social Security Lump-Sum Option Has a Big Gotcha

Martha Shedden, CRPC, RSSA | August 22, 2023

If you claim Social Security benefits after you reach full retirement age, you’ll be offered an up-front payout equal to…

How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits Without Breaking the Rules
Social Security

How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits Without Breaking the Rules

Laurence J. Kotlikoff, PhD | February 19, 2019

Our Social Security expert answers some of the trickiest questions posed by real benefits recipients.

How to Get Social Security and Medicare When Living Abroad
Social Security

How to Get Social Security and Medicare When Living Abroad

William Meyer | May 2, 2018

When you live outside the US, some of the rules for Social Security and Medicare are the same and some are different. How to get the most benefits.

Beware These 6 Big Social Security Mistakes
Social Security

Beware These 6 Big Social Security Mistakes

Laurence J. Kotlikoff, PhD | November 30, 2017

If you haven’t yet started collecting Social Security retirement benefits, you owe it to yourself to avoid these seven costly mistakes.

9 Tricky Terms: Deciphering Social Security Language
Social Security

9 Tricky Terms: Deciphering Social Security Language

Laurence J. Kotlikoff, PhD | June 25, 2017

Part of what makes the Social Security system so tricky is the language used to explain it. Here’s how to understand Social Security language.

Answers To Your Tricky Social Security Questions: Part 2
Social Security

Answers To Your Tricky Social Security Questions: Part 2

Laurence J. Kotlikoff, PhD | March 27, 2017

In "Answers to Your Social Security Questions", we looked at some important and tricky questions about Social Security eligibility and…

Answers To Your Social Security Questions
Social Security

Answers To Your Social Security Questions

Laurence J. Kotlikoff, PhD | March 3, 2017

You’re not supposed to have to worry about Social Security. It’s supposed to provide the simple, reliable and predictable portion…

Best Ways Now to Boost Your Social Security
Social Security

Best Ways Now to Boost Your Social Security

Michael ­Kitces, CFP | January 12, 2016

Smart Strategies for Married Couples Since Congress voted last year to end two Social Security loopholes, many married couples have…

Social Security Loopholes Ending
Social Security

Social Security Loopholes Ending

Michael ­Kitces, CFP | November 16, 2015

Two Social Security loopholes that have boosted benefits for more than 100,000 married couples are disappearing. But for some people,…

Social Security Secrets
Social Security

Social Security Secrets

Laurence J. Kotlikoff, PhD | April 8, 2015

You may be entitled to more than you’re getting. Social Security might end up being your most valuable retirement asset…and…

What Social Security Isn’t Telling You
Social Security

What Social Security Isn’t Telling You

William Meyer | January 8, 2015

Official estimates of your future benefits from the Social Security Administration can be both helpful and misleading. The agency has…

If You’re Disabled…How to Get the Social Security Benefits You Deserve
Social Security

If You’re Disabled…How to Get the Social Security Benefits You Deserve

Ronald A. Marks | October 17, 2013

Applications for Social Security disability benefits have surged to all-time highs in recent years, driven in part by an increase…

Safeguard Your Social Security Payments
Social Security

Safeguard Your Social Security Payments

John Sileo | September 11, 2013

Block scammers from stealing your Social Security payments electronically. Anyone who uses a bank account with ­direct deposit is vulnerable.…

Social Security Traps: One False Move Could Cost Singles, Widows and Widowers Thousands of Dollars
Social Security

Social Security Traps: One False Move Could Cost Singles, Widows and Widowers Thousands of Dollars

William Meyer | February 7, 2013

Part 2 Some of the traps that ensnare current and future Social Security recipients apply especially to people who are…