The Benefits Blog
The Benefits Blog provides expert insights, updates, and strategies on Social Security and Medicare, tailored for financial professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and better serve their clients. Stay informed with the latest developments and tips to maximize benefits for your clients.
For many Americans, Social Security is more than a benefit—it’s a financial cornerstone. Surveys consistently show that 80% to 90% of retirees depend on Social Security in some capacity to cover basic expenses. That means any disruption to these payments can have immediate and serious consequences.
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Whether you're wondering how to plan for Social Security, how to avoid filing mistakes, or how to optimize your retirement income, this guide will walk you through the 10 most important things to know before you file.
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1. Your Children May Be Eligible for Social Security Benefits
Social Security...
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently walked back part of a controversial new policy—but even the revised version imposes significant challenges for millions of Americans, especially seniors and people with disabilities. One of the most impactful changes relates to how beneficiaries ...
On February 27, 2025 the Associated Press reported that the Social Security Administration is preparing to lay off at least 7,000 employees. Here is how we think that will impact the services the SSA provides as well as what that means for you as an advisor.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) r...
I have a client that we are working with who has questions about her widow benefit. The husband passed away, and the wife is age 58 and is eligible to receive a widow’s benefit at age 60. Her FRA is 67. I looked back on the NSSA training and found that deemed filing does NOT apply. Doesn’t this mean...
We have a client that is getting some advice from Ohio SERS regarding a lump sum distribution and its impact on her SSA benefits that I am not sure that I agree with. SERS is advising that she retire early to get the lump sum out prior to her benefit eligibility date. They are claiming if this path...
I am delivering a SS presentation at our firm’s annual holiday client brunch (500 people – mostly retired and approaching retirement age). I would like to design a “MYTH BUSTERS” style presentation around SS. If you have a moment, what are the top SS MYTHS that I can “de-bunk/bust” for the audience?...
Scenario is a married couple where the husband is working, and the wife, age 63, is unable to work and currently receiving $300/month from SSDI. Can the disabled spouse qualify for a spousal benefit from the husband’s PIA?
Assuming her husband begins his retirement benefit, the disabled spouse, she...
When you decide to “take a load off” by resting your body on a stool, do you want to rest on a rocky bench that might cause you to either slide off or to force you to exert extra energy to continually stabilize yourself? A stable three-legged stool provides support through careful construction of ea...
I know in the NSSA® class in Kansas City you said that someone could still do a Claim and Suspend (really means Restricted Application!) on a Divorced spouse. I think I had it come up recently at a SS workshop, asking if a person could do a Restricted application on a Divorced spouse.
Yes, a divorc...
