Dec 11 How Social Security still discriminates against same-sex couples By Laurence Kotlikoff Even if a same-sex couple is married in a state where same-sex marriage is legal, if they live in a state where it's not, and one spouse tries to collect spousal or survivor benefits, he or she will not be… Continue reading
Dec 10 The Social Security and Medicare gotcha that makes contributing to your HSA illegal By Philip Moeller Philip Moeller considers a question from a reader who's old enough to collect maximum benefits from Social Security. When he files, though, he'll also get Medicare. And because he's still working, that'll spell trouble for his Health Savings Account. Continue reading
Dec 05 Congress wants to block Nazis from getting Social Security By Donna Cassata, Associated Press By voice vote late Thursday, the Senate gave final congressional approval to a measure that would shut a loophole that allowed suspected Nazis to be paid millions of dollars in benefits, clearing it for the White House. Under the bill,… Continue reading
Dec 01 Collect your Social Security as if you may live to 100 By Laurence Kotlikoff If you live to 100, which is increasingly likely for middle class Americans in decent health, says Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff, you’ll be extremely happy you waited until age 70 to collect your retirement benefit. Continue reading
Nov 24 Retiring? Here's how to get an extra month of Social Security benefits for free By Laurence Kotlikoff If you are going to file for your Social Security retirement benefit early, and you play your cards right, Larry Kotlikoff has a new trick for you to maximize your benefits. Continue reading
Nov 17 When Social Security will let you take only one benefit at a time By Laurence Kotlikoff Once you have filed for two benefits, you get just the larger of the two. So to maximize your Social Security, the trick is to take one benefit -- a widows benefit, for example, or your own retirement benefit --… Continue reading
Nov 10 How Social Security denied one woman the advice she deserved By Laurence Kotlikoff Larry Kotlikoff and former Social Security technical expert Jerry Lutz intervene on behalf of a disabled divorcée who was getting all the wrong answers from the Social Security offices in her area. Continue reading
Nov 03 4 Social Security tips for boomers who never married By Laurence Kotlikoff Much of Larry Kotlikoff's Social Security advice pertains to married couples or partners who are divorced, separated or widowed. But today, he speaks to those boomers who have never married, and tells them what they need to know should they… Continue reading
Nov 01 Report: 60,000 veterans got triple benefits last year -- legally By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Nearly 60,000 veterans were triple dippers last year, drawing a total of $3.5 billion in military retirement pay plus veterans and Social Security disability benefits at the same time, congressional auditors report. It's all legal. Continue reading
Oct 22 Social Security benefits to go up by 1.7 percent By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Millions of older Americans who rely on federal benefits will get a 1.7 percent increase in their monthly payments next year, the government announced Wednesday. Continue reading