You may be surprised to learn that Medicare and Social Security will not automatically honor your Durable Power of Attorney or Health Care Surrogate. These are powerful legal documents that everyone should have in their planning toolkit, but when it…
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The Social Security annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021 has been announced: 1.3%. This is among the smallest increases ever, and the smallest since 2017. According to the Social Security Administration, the 1.3% increase will translate to an additional $20 for…
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If you have not signed up for an online Social Security account, you really should. If you have signed up but are not checking the information at least annually, you really should do that, too. As a cost-cutting measure, in…
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In a July 2017 post we addressed why it is important to educate yourself about Social Security benefits, and to not rely solely on advice from the agency. A recent report from the Inspector General provides fresh support for this…
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About 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day, according to the Pew Research Center. Social Security offices are fielding massive numbers of inquiries as the Baby Boomers head into their benefits-collecting years. Unfortunately, studies show that office staff do not consistently…
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Despite all the trauma that accompanies the death of a loved one, certain tasks must be attended to without too great a delay. If the decedent was receiving Social Security benefits, one of the tasks is notifying the Social Security…
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If you are relying solely on the Social Security Administration staff or its website to help you determine when and how to take benefits, you should probably do a little more research. The General Accounting Office just released its analysis…
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The email’s subject line says “Get Protected,” but following its instructions will do anything but protect you. The sender appears to be the “Social Security Administration,” but it’s not. It’s a new and devious phishing scam. The real Social Security…
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It’s no secret: There’s a student debt crisis in this country. But who imagined that student debt is a growing problem for the senior population? While few households headed by individuals 65 or older carry student loans, there has been…
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The U.S. Supreme Court recently handed down its decision in the case of Astrue v. Capato. The circumstances of the case are ones most of us will never experience. Nonetheless, the case has lessons for everyone. It underscores the importance of creating a…
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