Article Snip: "...Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of FERS retirees will be wondering why they are only receiving a 2 percent COLA when the relevant measure of consumer prices increased by 2.8 percent. That’s due to the bargain struck in Congress in the 1980s when FERS was created, which limits COLAs to 2 percent when consumer prices increase between 2 and 3 percent. But that was the wrong policy then, as it is now. It prevents FERS annuities from keeping up with inflation, which is the whole point of a COLA. It is past time for Congress to ensure FERS retirees receive a full COLA each year. “Retirees already receive COLAs that fail to represent how seniors spend their money. COLAs are currently based on the CPI-W..."
Reference: www.narfe.orgWednesday, October 17, 2018
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Social Security COLA for 2019 will be 2.8 percent
Title: Social Security COLA for 2019 will be 2.8 percent
Article Snip: "...Social Security Administration announced Thursday that 63 million beneficiaries, including retirees, disabled workers and their eligible dependents and surviving family members, will receive a 2.8% increase in benefits next year, the largest annual cost-of-living adjustment since 2012..."
Reference: www.investmentnews.comTuesday, October 2, 2018
The "Worn Out Worker" Rule in Social Security Disability Claims
Title: The "Worn Out Worker" Rule in Social Security Disability Claims
Article Snip: "...The worn out worker rule makes it easier for those who've done many years of hard labor to get disability benefits..."
Reference: www.disabilitysecrets.comWednesday, September 5, 2018
Looking for an early retirement? Post videos on YouTube
Title: Looking for an early retirement? Post videos on YouTube
Article Snip: "...Inorder to earn money it is important that they attract a certain number of viewers or subscribers and then they must be approved for monitisation. Monitisation allows YouTube to display advertisements on or around your video and shares a portion of the revenue with the creator through Google's AdSense, the report said..."
Reference: bhaskar.comTuesday, August 28, 2018
4 Things to Know About Your FERS Annuity
Title: 4 Things to Know About Your FERS Annuity
Article Snip: "...if you work until age 62 and retire with 20 or more years of service, the formula changes. Instead of getting 1% per year worked you will receive 1.1% per year worked. An extra 0.1% on 20 years of service will add an additional 2% to your high 3..."
Reference: www.fedsmith.comSocial Security recipients could see their biggest raise in years
Title: Social Security recipients could see their biggest raise in years: A Foolish Take
Article Snip: "...Over the past decade, Social Security has been pretty stingy in the COLAs it gives to retirees. But 2019 could be different. Early indications suggest Social Security benefits could go up by a greater amount than retirees and other participants have seen since 2012..."
Reference: www.usatoday.com
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Increase Your FERS Retirement Percentage Computation With This Simple Trick
Title: What’s the Difference in the 1% and 1.1% FERS Annuity Computations?
Article Snip: "...there are two different computation factors that are used in computing the FERS annuity; 1% and 1.1%. What’s the difference between them..."
Reference: www.fedsmith.comWednesday, August 22, 2018
Here's How Much Social Security Benefits Are by Age and Income Level
Title: Here's How Much Social Security Benefits Are by Age and Income Level
Article Snip: "...While there's no way for sure to know what your future Social Security benefit will be, this guide can help you get a ballpark idea..."
Reference: www.fool.comTuesday, August 14, 2018
What Is Ahead for the Nation's Aging Workforce?
Title: What Is Ahead for the Nation's Aging Workforce?
Article Snip: "...not only are older persons working more, but these older workers are also earning more than in previous years” said James Spletzer, Principal Economist at the Center for Economic Studies. “Inflation-adjusted average monthly earnings of persons aged 65 and older were $4,092 in 2015, which is substantially higher than the $2,276 statistic in 1994..."
Reference: www.census.govThursday, August 9, 2018
A snapshot of the average Social Security beneficiary
Title: A snapshot of the average Social Security beneficiary
Article Snip: "...But what you may not know, given the program's broad reach, is what the average Social Security beneficiary looks like. Here are three metrics that'll help define the typical recipient. 1. Who is primarily receiving benefits?"
Reference: journaltimes.comMonday, August 6, 2018
Warren Buffett’s favorite metric suggests some serious pain awaits investors
Title: Warren Buffett’s favorite metric suggests some serious pain awaits investors
Article Snip: "...One of those measures, in particular, has popped up on investor radars lately, and that’s the “Buffett indicator.” The Berkshire BRK.A, +3.02% boss called it “the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.” If historical patterns hold true, a thrashing could be in store for complacent investors..."
Reference: www.marketwatch.comSunday, July 29, 2018
This Is Great News for Social Security's 2019 COLA
Title: This Is Great News for Social Security's 2019 COLA
Article Snip: "...while there are still a good two and a half months to go before definitively knowing what magnitude of raise to expect, signs are pointing to beneficiaries receiving their highest COLA since 2012..."
Reference: www.fool.comSunday, July 15, 2018
Can a debt collector take my social security benefits?
Title: Savvy Senior: Can a debt collector take my social security benefits?
Article Snip: "...Whether your Social Security benefits are garnishable or not depends on whom you owe. Banks and other financial creditors, for example..."
Reference: www.heraldextra.comTuesday, July 10, 2018
37 States That Don't Tax Social Security Benefits
Title: 37 States That Don't Tax Social Security Benefits
Article Snip: "...Some retirees are surprised to learn that Social Security is taxable. The federal government taxes up to 85% of your benefits, depending on your income. Most states, however, exempt Social Security from state taxes. The list of 37 states that don’t tax Social Security..."
Reference: www.kiplinger.comMonday, July 2, 2018
How To Sign Up For Medicare: Who Should, Why, When
Title: How To Sign Up For Medicare: Who Should, Why, When
Article Snip: "...the biggest mistake that individuals can make under Medicare is not signing up for Parts A and B on a timely basis... The key date is four months before your 65th birthday. Here's how..."
Reference: www.investors.comThursday, June 28, 2018
The $1,800-a-year Medicare cost that surprises many retirees
Title: The $1,800-a-year Medicare cost that surprises many retirees
Article Snip: "...While Medicare Part B premiums are higher for folks with higher incomes, they will still cost the typical person $1,608 in 2018. Add in the deductible, and it’s $1,791 — before any out-of-pocket costs..."
Reference: www.aol.comTuesday, June 12, 2018
FERS Retirement with 10% Bonus: Higher Pension for Age 62 & 20 Years
Title: FERS Retirement with 10% Bonus: Higher Pension for Age 62 & 20 Years
Article Snip: "...if you retire at age 62 or older with 20 or more years of creditable service, your pension multiplier is 1.1% [instead of 1%]...In order to get the bonus, you must be at least 62 years old at retirement with at least 20 years of creditable service. You must also be going out on an immediate FERS Retirement...For more details about the bonus, you can check out Chapter 50 of OPM's CSRS / FERS Handbook This bonus is mentioned in Section 50B3.1-1 Subsection B..."
Reference: plan-your-federal-retirement.comThursday, May 24, 2018
10 states with the highest average Social Security retirement benefit
Title: 10 states with the highest average Social Security retirement benefit
Article Snip: "...the only three states with an average retirement benefit in excess of $1,500 a month. The average New Jersey retiree is taking home $1,725 extra per year over the national average, and just over $2,900 more a year than the average retired worker in Louisiana, which ranked dead last among the 50 states ($1,311.72 a month). This is probably why retirement benefits are higher in these states..."
Reference: www.usatoday.comAs of March 2018, SSA data shows that the average retirement benefit was $1,409.91 a month, or about $16,919 a year.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Average Retirement Debt
Title: Average Retirement Debt
Article Snip: "...According to the survey, 8 in 10 middle-income Boomers currently have some debt. Three in 10 devote more than 40% of their monthly income to debt and a quarter have a mortgage with more than 20 years remaining on it. More than half say they intend to enter retirement debt free, but only one-quarter of retired Boomers actually are debt free..."
Reference: www.newretirement.comSee how your retirement savings compares to other workers earning a similar salary
Title: See how your retirement savings compares to other workers earning a similar salary
Article Snip: "...Employees earning between $40,000 and $60,000 are likely to have a little more room in their budget to save for retirement. The median 401(k) balance ranges from $16,502 among 20-somethings to $113,504 for workers in their 50s, according to the EBRI analysis. People in their 40s ($79,786) have saved a median of over twice as much as those in their 30s ($35,602). "A moderate earner now is likely in a lower tax bracket, so paying taxes on income and contributing to a Roth now makes sense..."
Reference: money.usnews.com