Benefits Watch Your SS Updates

Bipartisan Reform Backing Meets Flawed COLA and Planning Shortfalls

Bipartisan support for Social Security reform is clear, yet seniors face an outdated COLA formula and a 2032 shortfall risk.

Reform consensus: 80%...

Preparing Social Security Plans Before Congress Acts

wealthmanagement.com

Preparing Social Security Plans Before Congress Acts

COBRA Offers No Protection from Lifelong Part B Penalties

Retirees who delay Part B enrollment while on COBRA or retiree plans face a permanent 10% annual penalty because these coverages do not count as...

thefinancialwire.com

Miss the Medicare sign-up window and a 10% Part B penalty is tacked on for life for each year you delayed.

QLACs Offer Hidden RMD Relief and IRMAA Protection

A little-known IRS rule lets retirees shift up to $210,000 from a traditional IRA into a QLAC, removing that amount from RMD calculations until age...

Retirees Can Move $210,000 From an IRA Into a QLAC and Delay RMDs on That Money Until 85. Almost Nobody Has Heard of It.

247wallst.com

Retirees Can Move $210,000 From an IRA Into a QLAC and Delay RMDs on That Money Until 85. Almost Nobody Has Heard of It.

10h ago

Medicare Ozempic Price Drop: Seniors' Real Savings Depend on Plans

Medicare's negotiated price for semaglutide drugs falls to $274 a month from $959 starting 2027, a 71% reduction.

This is the program's payment,...

Medicare’s price for the Ozempic and Wegovy family of drugs drops to $274 a month next year, down 71% from a $959 list.

thefinancialwire.com

Medicare’s price for the Ozempic and Wegovy family of drugs drops to $274 a month next year, down 71% from a $959 list.

Avoid the 25% RMD Penalty at 73

Missing a required minimum distribution triggers a 25% excise tax on the shortfall, on top of ordinary income taxes.

Correct quickly: File Form...

Required retirement-account withdrawals begin at 73, and skipping one can bring a penalty of up to 25% of the amount missed.

thefinancialwire.com

Required retirement-account withdrawals begin at 73, and skipping one can bring a penalty of up to 25% of the amount missed.

Key Social Security Rules to Maximize Benefits for Divorced and Widowed Retirees

Divorced spouses married at least 10 years can claim up to 50% of an ex's benefit without reducing the ex's check and up to 100% as a survivor...

Divorced spouses married at least 10 years can claim up to half an ex’s Social Security without lowering the ex’s check

themoneyoverview.com

Divorced spouses married at least 10 years can claim up to half an ex’s Social Security without lowering the ex’s check

Claiming Social Security at 67: Two Key Trade-offs

Claiming at full retirement age (67) offers a middle-ground benefit: larger than early claims but smaller than waiting longer.

Ready to retire: If...

2 Reasons to Claim Social Security at 67

fool.com

2 Reasons to Claim Social Security at 67

Key OBBBA Tax Moves for Retirees

Retirees can strategically time income recognition to maximize an expanded deduction tied to modified adjusted gross income.

Roth conversions:...

The Biggest Tax Opportunities for Retirees Under the OBBBA — and How to Make the Most of Them

kiplinger.com

The Biggest Tax Opportunities for Retirees Under the OBBBA — and How to Make the Most of Them

16h ago

COLA Formula Flaws Cut Retiree Buying Power

Social Security benefits lost 20% of buying power from 2010-2024 and 13.7% from 2016-2026 due to flawed COLA calculations.

The formula uses CPI-W,...

Is the Social Security COLA Formula Broken? Here's What Experts Are Saying.

fool.com

Is the Social Security COLA Formula Broken? Here's What Experts Are Saying.

Social Security Regrets: 3 Retirees Share Hard Lessons

Real stories show claiming Social Security involves unavoidable tradeoffs, with regrets often tied to health, cash needs, and longevity...

We Asked 3 Retirees When They Claimed Social Security And If They Regret It - Here's What They Said

financebuzz.com

We Asked 3 Retirees When They Claimed Social Security And If They Regret It - Here's What They Said

Average Social Security Benefit at Age 77: Your Benchmark

The average monthly benefit for 77-year-olds stands at $2,170.80 as of December 2025, slightly above the overall retiree average.

Key factors shaping...

Here's the Average Social Security Benefit of 77-Year-Old Americans (How Do You Compare?)

financebuzz.com

Here's the Average Social Security Benefit of 77-Year-Old Americans (How Do You Compare?)

Sanders Bill Targets Social Security Garnishment for Student Loans

Bernie Sanders is introducing legislation to stop the federal government from garnishing Social Security benefits to repay student loan debt. This could shield seniors from losing critical retirement funds to collectors.

New proposal would prevent garnishment of some Social Security benefits

cleveland.com

New proposal would prevent garnishment of some Social Security benefits