Your Social Security from Creators Syndicate

Trying to Put Some Myths to Rest for 08/27/2008

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I know you have written columns in the past about the future of Social Security. As far as I can tell, there are two problems with the system as it is currently structured. The biggest problem is that people get a lot more money out of Social Security than they paid into it. The other big problem is all those people getting Social Security who never put a nickel into the funds. May I have yo ...

Updated: Wed Aug 27, 2008

Illegal Immigrants Seldom Receive Social Security for 09/03/2008

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I just heard from a reliable source on the radio that illegal immigrants are ripping off American taxpayers by collecting Social Security benefits. No wonder this country and the Social Security system are in such trouble. Do you have any information about how much money the U.S. pays these illegal workers?

A: How about “zero.”

I could change the title of this column to “Debunk ...

Updated: Wed Sep 03, 2008

Death Benefit Hardly Worth the Worry for 09/10/2008

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My widowed mother recently died. My sisters and I applied for the Social Security death benefit, but our claim was denied. We were simply told we were not eligible for it. But several years ago, my friend's father died and she got the death benefit. Can you explain why she got it but we didn't?

A: The Social Security death benefit is a pittance of $255 that the government throws at t ...

Updated: Wed Sep 10, 2008

Competency Is in the Eye of the Beholder for 09/17/2008

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: The Social Security people are very incompetent. And they have no clue what good service is. Every time I try to contact them, I wait on hold for an eternity and then I finally learn that my worker is on vacation or is unavailable. When I do reach them, they are never any help! I have had a Social Security claim pending for six months. Can you do anything to help me?

A: I get quite a ...

Updated: Wed Sep 17, 2008

Widow Due Benefits After Divorcing Hubby No. 2 for 09/24/2008

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have a widowed friend who remarried when she was 58 years old. But that marriage lasted only 4 months and they were divorced. She's been told that because she remarried before age 60, she won't be able to collect widow's benefits on her first husband's Social Security record. This doesn't seem fair since they were married for about 30 years. Is this true?

A: No, it's not true. Your ...

Updated: Wed Sep 24, 2008

Cast Your Vote to Reform the System for 10/01/2008

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have always admired your candor with respect to the politics of Social Security. Now that we're in the middle of a presidential race, Social Security is bound to come up as in issue. And frankly, I get confused every time I hear the subject being discussed. Can I have your thoughts on this please?

A: Your confusion is warranted because, frankly, both major political parties deserve ...

Updated: Wed Oct 01, 2008

Working the Percentages to Fix the System for 10/08/2008

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

In last week's column, I explained that Social Security must eventually be reformed to deal with the demographic time bomb represented by aging baby boomers. The system works perfectly at a ratio of three taxpayers to each Social Security beneficiary. But once all of the boomers move from the intake side of the Social Security pipeline to the outflow side, we will be at a 2-to-1 ratio, just two ...

Updated: Wed Oct 08, 2008

SSI Eligibility Rules Vary by Location for 10/15/2008

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have a 15-year-old son with severe attention deficit disorder. He is on Medicaid but gets no other assistance. I have a friend with a disabled daughter who also is getting Medicaid from the state, but her daughter also receives monthly SSI disability benefits from Social Security. Can my son get SSI from Social Security? If he can, would that impact any Social Security benefits he might be ...

Updated: Wed Oct 15, 2008

Add-On Plan: More Is Better for 10/22/2008

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: In a recent column, you offered some suggestions for fixing Social Security to keep the system solvent in years to come when all the baby boomers retire. But I noticed you didn't mention any options for an ownership society. I think taxpayers should be free to choose how they want to invest their Social Security money. Aren't you showing your liberal bias by ignoring this important method to ...

Updated: Wed Oct 22, 2008

Government Pension Offset Issue Touches a Nerve for 10/29/2008

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Q: You are so wrong about the Government Pension Offset issue! In a recent column, you said it is fair. Well, it might seem fair to a former highly paid government executive such as you? But to a low-paid government retiree like me, it is totally unfair. How would you like it if your mother or sister was poor and was denied benefits on her husband's Social Security record because of some stupid ...

Updated: Wed Oct 29, 2008

Delay Could Pay in a Small Way for 11/05/2008

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I have recently lost a good deal of my 401(k) money that was going to be my retirement nest egg. So now I've got to work longer than I originally planned. I'm thinking I won't be able to retire until I'm 70. Will I get extra Social Security benefits because I'm delaying my retirement? If so, how much extra will I get?

A: If you decide to put off starting your Social Security benefits ...

Updated: Wed Nov 05, 2008

No Right Way to Play The Sweepstakes for 11/12/2008

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

I recently spent an evening with some new friends, and the topic of “what do you do for a living” naturally came up. When I mentioned that I write a Social Security question and answer column, they wanted to know what the most frequently asked question I get is. When I told them, they both said they were going to ask me the same thing! Here it is.

Q: Should I take my Social Security when ...

Updated: Wed Nov 12, 2008

Obama Could Finally Provide Impetus for Change for 11/19/2008

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I thought your recent column that included proposals to fix Social Security's long-range financing problems was very insightful. People need to support political leaders who have the courage to tackle this issue. What do you think the election of Barack Obama will do for the future of Social Security?

A: Given the state of the economy and the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I th ...

Updated: Wed Nov 19, 2008

The Benefits of Early Retirement Have Their Limits for 11/26/2008

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I am turning 62 and planned to apply for my Social Security. But I am confused about the earnings penalty rules. I have several streams of investment income and I dabble in a couple businesses that make me a few pennies every year. Please tell me: What is income and what isn't?

A: The Social Security Administration's "program operations manual system," the "bible" ...

Updated: Wed Nov 26, 2008

There Are Exceptions to Medicare Rules for 12/03/2008

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I have a friend who is about to turn 65. He says he is not going to sign up for Medicare Part B until he turns 66. That's when he plans to apply for his Social Security and for his Medicare. But I told him he will pay a 10 percent penalty if he waits until age 66 to apply for Medicare Part B. Am I right?

A: Yes you are — in most circumstances. But as with almost every government ...

Updated: Wed Dec 03, 2008

Benefits Not Limited to the Retired for 12/10/2008

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: Would you please explain to me how a young woman could possibly be getting Social Security benefits? I was standing in line at a grocery store when I overheard a gal who looked to be in her mid 20s telling the checker that she was low on money until the next Social Security checks came in for her and her kids. No wonder Social Security has problems if we're paying money to young people who o ...

Updated: Wed Dec 10, 2008

Trust Fund Invested in Government Bonds for 12/17/2008

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I am so fed up with all this talk about government bailouts of one industry or another. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Isn't it true that Congress has been using Social Security money to bail out other government programs for years?

A: No, it's not true. And your use of the term "bailout" is just the latest spin on the old urban myth that Social Security tax money is ...

Updated: Wed Dec 17, 2008

A Christmas Letter to Santa for 12/24/2008

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Dear Santa,

I write a Social Security column for the Creator's News Service. It's syndicated to newspapers around the country. For several years now, I've sent you a wish list at Christmas time. You may recall that last year I asked you to make politicians talk honestly about Social Security issues during the 2008 elections. OK, so maybe that was a tall order or maybe you had more import ...

Updated: Wed Dec 24, 2008

Benefit Increases Offer Small Relief for Steep Inflation for 12/31/2008

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

As we prepare for the New Year, it's a good time to go review the major Social Security changes taking place in 2009. All of these changes are the result of scheduled and automatic programs built into Social Security law that are tied to the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. The adjustment is based on the annual increase in the consumer price index. In other words, it's based on the ra ...

Updated: Wed Dec 31, 2008

Here's a Tip for Those Turning 65 in 2009 for 01/07/2009

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800

I write a column similar to this one every January. But I don't mind plagiarizing myself because it contains a very important message for people planning to retire in 2009.

January is a critical month for the hundreds of thousands of potential Social Security beneficiaries who are reaching their so-called full retirement age in 2009. The important message: All of them should at least con ...

Updated: Wed Jan 07, 2009