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What to know about the House push to expand some Social Security benefits
Read full article: What to know about the House push to expand some Social Security benefitsThe House is expected to try next week to pass a Social Security-related bill to ensure benefits for workers who are also eligible for other pensions.
What to know about this year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustment
Read full article: What to know about this year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustmentTens of millions of older Americans will see a 2.5% increase in benefits this January when a new cost-of-living adjustment is added to Social Security payments.
Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025, smaller than in recent past
Read full article: Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025, smaller than in recent pastMillions of retirees who receive Social Security benefits will see a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January.
Social Security's scheduled cost of living increase 'won't make a dent' for some retirees
Read full article: Social Security's scheduled cost of living increase 'won't make a dent' for some retireesSocial Security recipients are expected to receive a smaller cost-of-living increase in January than in recent years as inflation moderates.
Tips, overtime, Social Security: A look at Donald Trump's no-tax pledges and what they might cost
Read full article: Tips, overtime, Social Security: A look at Donald Trump's no-tax pledges and what they might costDonald Trump has pledged to end taxes on everything from tips to Social Security and overtime pay if he’s elected to the White House again.
In South Texas congressional race, Monica De La Cruz and Michelle Vallejo spar over health care
Read full article: In South Texas congressional race, Monica De La Cruz and Michelle Vallejo spar over health careThe topic is playing a major role in one of Texas’ only competitive congressional races this year as the competitors debate Medicare, abortion and expanding coverage.
An appeals court has revived a challenge to President Biden's Medicare drug price reduction program
Read full article: An appeals court has revived a challenge to President Biden's Medicare drug price reduction programA constitutional challenge to the Biden administration program enabling Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs has been revived by a federal appeals court.
No American dream? 1 in 4 retirees return to work due to financial struggles
Read full article: No American dream? 1 in 4 retirees return to work due to financial strugglesAccording to a new report by BadCredit.org, a financial education platform, 59% of retirees lack sufficient funds for retirement, with more than half forced to change their lifestyle due to financial hardship.
Beyond 'childless cat ladies,' JD Vance has long been on a quest to encourage more births
Read full article: Beyond 'childless cat ladies,' JD Vance has long been on a quest to encourage more birthsJD Vance repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates as he launched his political career with a bid for the U.S. Senate in Ohio.
Key senators reach agreement on spending levels for next year, setting up clash with House
Read full article: Key senators reach agreement on spending levels for next year, setting up clash with HouseThe Senate will pursue a spending increase next year of about 3.4% for defense and 2.7% increase for non-defense programs under a bipartisan agreement reached by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
For decades, states have taken foster children's federal benefits. That's starting to change
Read full article: For decades, states have taken foster children's federal benefits. That's starting to changeStates have for decades been using foster children's federal Social Security benefits to help cover the costs of state services.
The federal debt tops $34 trillion and some in Congress want a commission to find ways to tackle it
Read full article: The federal debt tops $34 trillion and some in Congress want a commission to find ways to tackle itA bill to create a bipartisan commission that would tackle the nation’s soaring debt and make policy recommendations to Congress has won approval from a House committee.
What to know about the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment
Read full article: What to know about the Social Security cost-of-living adjustmentTens of millions of older Americans will see a modest increase in benefits in January when a new cost-of-living adjustment is added to Social Security payments.
Social Security benefits will increase by 3.2% in 2024 as inflation moderates
Read full article: Social Security benefits will increase by 3.2% in 2024 as inflation moderatesThe acting Social Security commissioner says a 3_2% increase in benefits next year “will help millions of people keep up with expenses."
Debt limit deal is in place, but budget deficit is still a multi-decade challenge for US government
Read full article: Debt limit deal is in place, but budget deficit is still a multi-decade challenge for US governmentEven with new spending restraints included in the congressional debt limit deal, the U.S. government’s deficits are still on course to keep climbing to record levels over the next few decades.
Most oppose Social Security, Medicare cuts: AP-NORC poll
Read full article: Most oppose Social Security, Medicare cuts: AP-NORC pollAmericans are deeply opposed to cutting into Medicare or Social Security benefits, and most support raising taxes on the nation’s highest earners to keep Medicare running as is.
Medicare, Social Security could fall short over next decade
Read full article: Medicare, Social Security could fall short over next decadeAn annual report on Social Security and Medicare says the financial safety nets millions of older Americans rely on and millions more young people are counting on will run short on funds to pay full benefits within the next decade.
Poll: Cut federal spending — but not big-ticket programs
Read full article: Poll: Cut federal spending — but not big-ticket programsIn the federal budget standoff, the majority of U.S. adults are asking lawmakers to pull off the impossible: Cut the overall size of government, but also devote more money to the most popular and expensive programs.
Haley wants entitlement program changes for younger people
Read full article: Haley wants entitlement program changes for younger peopleRepublican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is proposing changes to entitlement programs for younger generations, opening the door to potential cuts to Social Security and Medicare if elected.
Sen. Rick Scott alters policy plan causing heartburn for GOP
Read full article: Sen. Rick Scott alters policy plan causing heartburn for GOPRepublican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida has amended a plan to overhaul how the federal government works after Democrats repeatedly seized on it to accuse Republicans of looking to cut Medicare and Social Security.
Biden warns of GOP plans for Medicare, Social Security cuts
Read full article: Biden warns of GOP plans for Medicare, Social Security cutsWhen President Joe Biden suggested that Republicans want to slash Medicare and Social Security it brought howls of protests from the GOP side of the aisle during the State of the Union address.
Social Security boost seen as unlikely to help Dems at polls
Read full article: Social Security boost seen as unlikely to help Dems at pollsThe news that 70 million people will see an 8.7% boost in their Social Security checks next year came just weeks before Election Day, but it's unlikely to give Democrats the edge they're desperately seeking at the polls.
How Social Security works and what to know about its future
Read full article: How Social Security works and what to know about its futureTens of millions of older Americans will see a major increase in benefits this January when a new cost-of-living adjustment (or COLA) is added to Social Security payments.
Go-broke dates pushed back for Social Security, Medicare
Read full article: Go-broke dates pushed back for Social Security, MedicareA stronger-than-expected economic recovery from the pandemic has pushed back the go-broke dates for Social Security and Medicare, but officials warn that the current economic turbulence is putting additional pressures on the bedrock retirement programs.
COVID recession pushed Social Security insolvency up a year
Read full article: COVID recession pushed Social Security insolvency up a yearThe sharp shock of the coronavirus recession pushed Social Security a year closer to insolvency but left Medicare’s exhaustion date unchanged, the government reported Tuesday.
Taxes: Answers to top FAQs about Social Security income
Read full article: Taxes: Answers to top FAQs about Social Security incomeEven for those of us who think we have some knowledge about anything tax related, it can be a stressful time. And it's certainly not a time when you want to play a guessing game.
Calculate the amount of your next stimulus check with this tool
Read full article: Calculate the amount of your next stimulus check with this toolHOUSTON – Want to know how much you’ll be getting on your next stimulus check? The Second Stimulus Check Calculator, created by Omni, calculates your upcoming check using your income taxes from 2019 (including your adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2019), the number of children in your household and your filing status. The calculator will be updated if there is any change to the $900 billion rescue package passed on Sunday. Most Americans will receive a $600 stimulus check under the new bill, while others will receive an extra $300 for each child dependent under age 17. To learn more about the calculator and requirements to receive your check, click here.
Retiree checks to rise 1.3% in 2021 amid coronavirus fallout
Read full article: Retiree checks to rise 1.3% in 2021 amid coronavirus falloutWASHINGTON – Social Security recipients will get a modest 1.3% cost-of living-increase in 2021, but that might be small comfort amid worries about the coronavirus and its consequences for older people. The economic fallout from the virus has reduced tax collections for Social Security and Medicare, likely worsening their long-term financial condition. The former vice president would raise Social Security taxes by applying the payroll tax to earnings above $400,000 a year. That amount generally increases, so at least some of any additional Social Security raise goes to health care premiums. That prompted Congress to pass recent election-year legislation that limits next year’s premium increase but gradually collects the full amount later on under a repayment mechanism.
Here’s how to make those bogus social security calls stop
Read full article: Here’s how to make those bogus social security calls stopHOUSTON – The coronavirus pandemic shut down a lot of operations, but there is actually one we all wanted to go away: those scam calls claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. If you do call, they will attempt to get you to “verify” or “confirm” your social security number. Don’t ever give your social security number to anyone by phone, not even the last four digits. The Social Security Administration will never call you and threaten you with arrest or any other kind of legal action. The Social Security Office of the Inspector General has set up a complaint form to collect information on the calls.
Trump administration allows deferral of Social Security tax
Read full article: Trump administration allows deferral of Social Security taxIt allows employers to offer their workers a temporary deferral of the 6.2% payroll tax employees pay into the Social Security Trust Fund for the rest of this year. Regardless of the practical impact of Treasurys action, it appears Social Security will be thrust into the election maelstrom. Trump has also teased that if hes reelected he would press for a permanent cut in Social Security taxes. As a candidate in 2016, Trump promised not to cut Social Security and Medicare, and Democrats say he has now abandoned that promise. Administration officials say any legislation would repay the Social Security Trust Fund as well.
Coronavirus pandemic may cause Social Security benefits to dry up even sooner, new model suggests
Read full article: Coronavirus pandemic may cause Social Security benefits to dry up even sooner, new model suggestsHOUSTON – The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently released updated data outlining when it believes the trust funds — which help ensure there’s enough money to pay full benefits — will run dry. The same day the Social Security Board of Trustees released that information, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) released its own projections. RELATED: Social Security and Medicare funds at risk even before virusWhichever year it ends up being, that year is coming soon and if nothing changes, there will come a time when Social Security recipients’ benefits will have to be cut. Unemployment : With more than 30 million people out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic, a huge chunk of the population is paying less into Social Security. “Social Security recipients pay taxes on their benefits if their incomes exceed $25,000 ($32,000 for a couple filing jointly).
When will you get your stimulus cash, and how?
Read full article: When will you get your stimulus cash, and how?Previous stimulus payments in 2001 and 2008 have been delivered by both direct deposit and checks in the mail, but mobile payment services like Venmo want to play a role this time. The IRS will use your 2019 tax return, if you've already filed it, or your 2018 return to calculate the amount of your payment. Even those who don't normally need to file a tax return may have to in order to receive their payment. Social Security recipients will automatically receive stimulus payThe Treasury Department, clearing up confusion, said Wednesday that Social Security recipients will not have to file a tax return in order to receive the economic stimulus payments the government is preparing to send out. Those who do not receive their Social Security benefits via direct deposit will be sent a paper check.
Social Security recipients can expect a stimulus check
Read full article: Social Security recipients can expect a stimulus checkU.S. citizens who receive Social Security benefits can expect to get a stimulus check, according to many reports. “The proposed bill includes language that allows Americans receiving Social Security—many of whom are retired and don’t file taxes—to obtain direct financial assistance through the coronavirus stimulus package,” according to Fortune Magazine. To determine their rebate, beneficiaries’ data will be accessed by the government through the Social Security Administration, Fortune Magazine reports. Under the $2 trillion stimulus package, those who qualify will receive the following amounts:$1,200 for a single adult who did not make more than $75,000, according to their filed 2019 taxes. $2,400 for a married couple who filed jointly and did not make more than 150,000, according to their 2019 taxes.
3 Social Security myths that could be costing you thousands of dollars
Read full article: 3 Social Security myths that could be costing you thousands of dollarsHOUSTON – If you plan to rely on your Social Security benefits to get by after retirement, you will likely not have enough to pay your monthly expenses. Making matters worse, there are several Social Security myths that are costing older Americans thousands of dollars in lost benefits. 1:You need their social security benefits now because when you are retirement age, the Social Security system will be dried up. 2:You should take your Social Security benefit early and invest the money each month so that when you need it, you will have earned more. You can also work with a Social Security certified financial consultant to put together a Social Security analysis using your benefit and income information.
Social Security & Tax Breaks
Read full article: Social Security & Tax BreaksFiguring out what you owe can be complicated, here is some information to understand what is taxable under Social Security. Social Security is taxable at three different levels, based upon how much other income you have and your income tax filing status. This is 50% of your household Social Security benefits plus all of your other taxable income, plus any tax-free income. These breakpoints are the same if your filing status is Married Filing Separately and the couple does not live together during the tax year. If your Provisional Income (defined above) is less than the first breakpoint based on your filing status, then none of your Social Security is taxable.
Helpful phone numbers for Health Care Reform questions
Read full article: Helpful phone numbers for Health Care Reform questionsHelpful phone numbers for Health Care Reform questionsPublished: September 30, 2013, 7:11 pmHOUSTON – Here are some helpful phone numbers to get your Health Care Reform questions answered: Health Insurance Marketplace: 800-318-2596 Medicare 800-633-4227 Medicaid 866-762-2237 Social Security 800-772-1213 SHOP for small business owners 800-706-7893 Check out our full coverage in our Health Care Reform section by clicking here. Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.