When Is the Best Time to Take Social Security Benefits?

The age that you choose to start taking your Social Security benefits is going to determine how much you are going to receive each month. The following shows you how: Delaying Your Retirement. If you don’t start receiving your Social Security benefits when you reach the full retirement age, you will be delaying your retirement. … Read more

What Are an Employer’s Social Security Responsibilities?

All employers are required to withhold Social Security taxes from their employees’ wages. In addition, employers must pay a matching tax on behalf of their employees. These taxes are collectively known as FICA taxes, which stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. FICA taxes are used to fund the Social Security and Medicare programs. The Social … Read more

Can I Get Social Security Benefits With My Public Pension?

Many public employees pay into a separate retirement or pension system from Social Security. For example, public employees in the state of Ohio pay into the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). Each employee pays 10% of their earnings into OPERS, and they choose the type of investments for their funds. If you also worked … Read more

The Benefits of Social Security Electronic Transfer

Gone are the days in which the Social Security Administration used the snail mail check method for providing monthly payment benefits to qualified recipients. The Social Security Administration now requires all beneficiaries to receive their payment via electronic transfer. This applies to those who receive regular retirement benefits based on age, Social Security Disability Insurance, … Read more

List of Qualifying Conditions for Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a strict definition of disability. To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must have a medical condition that: Is expected to last at least one year or result in death Prevents you from working at any job There are many conditions that can qualify as disabling under the … Read more

Are Disability Benefits Taxable?

According to the Social Security Administration, a person is considered disabled if they cannot work owing to a medically determinable mental or physical disability that has lasted or is likely to remain for at least 12 months. If a person is disabled, their Social Security benefits are exempt from taxation. If a worker’s disability meets … Read more

Look Out for Social Security Scams

Scammers are always devising new ways to separate honest, hardworking individuals from their money. Your Social Security number is the gateway to identity theft, and once someone has it, you could find yourself in a big financial and personal mess. Let’s take a look at some of the most common Social Security scams, what to … Read more

Has My Social Security Number Been Suspended?

Scammers attempting to steal your Social Security number are always devising new tricks to get you to reveal your confidential information. Every year, tens of thousands of these scams are successful. Consumers lost more than $10 million to the Social Security number suspension scam in 2018 alone. How the Social Security Number Suspension Scam Works … Read more

Reducing Your Taxes during Your Retirement Years

Social Security benefits are taxable for most Americans. The thresholds where you begin to owe taxes are very low for Social Security benefits, so it is very easy for Americans with other sources of income to owe taxes on as much as 50% or even 85% of their Social Security benefits. The good news is … Read more

Ways to Protect Your Social Security Number

Your Social Security number is one of the most important pieces of your personal information. It’s used to track your credit history, tax records, and more. Unfortunately, it’s also a prime target for fraudsters. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to help protect your Social Security number from fraud. How to … Read more