The Social Security Retirement Age Increases to 66.5 in 2019

Title: The Social Security Retirement Age Increases to 66.5 in 2019

Article Snip: "...Here's a look at how the retirement age is changing, and what this means for your retirement payments. An older Social Security full retirement age. The full retirement age used to be 65 for those born in 1937 or earlier. Those born between..."

Reference: usnews.com

More Reading: How the federal government makes sure you wont get much in Social Security. For example, the U.S. life expectancy for a white male in Alabama is 73.36 and the new Social Security age is 66.5. So if you are lucky enough to live until your are 73.36 you will collect Social Security for approximately 7 years. Now that's a real ponzi scheme!

What is 'Provisional Income'

Title: What is 'Provisional Income'

Article Snip: "...Provisional income is an IRS threshold above which social security income is taxable. The base, from §86 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), triggers taxability social security benefits requiring its inclusion in gross income tax payment on excess amounts..."

Reference: www.investopedia.com
Provisional Income,

What is considered "earned income" relative to social security benefits?

Title: What is considered income relative to social security benefits?

Article Snip: "...In general, the Social Security Administration defines “earned income” as “income from wages or net earnings from self-employment.” For example, earnings may include bonuses, commissions, and severance pay. Investment income, pensions, capital gains, and inheritances are not considered wages. Other types of payment made by an employer may be considered earnings under certain conditions..."

Reference: www.aarp.org
Social Security Earnings Limit, earned income,

Are Social Security Benefits Taxed?

Title: Are Social Security Benefits Taxed?

Article Snip: "...Some of you have to pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you..."

Reference: www.ssa.gov
Taxes on Social Security,

New legislation would improve retiree cost-of-living adjustments

Title: New legislation would improve retiree cost-of-living adjustments

Article Snip: "...Retired federal employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System currently can end up receiving a lower cost-of-living adjustment than retirees under the older Civil Service Retirement System, due to the legislation that created the FERS in 1986. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., introduced legislation Nov. 20 that would amend Title 5 of U.S. Code to ensure that COLAs for all retirees are equal..."

Reference: www.federaltimes.com
cost-of-living adjustments, Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS),

It Might Be Worse To Take Social Security At 66, Here's Why

Title: It Might Be Worse To Take Social Security At 66, Here's Why

Article Snip: "...it's extremely unlikely that benefit cuts would be visited on those already collecting benefits or on those about to start collecting in, say, the next decade. Roughly one fifth of the elderly subsists on Social Security and it's the main source of financial support for roughly half..."

Reference: www.forbes.com

Will LWOP usage harm my retirment compensation?

Title: Retirement benefits and LWOP

Excerpt Quoted from OPM.GOV: "An aggregate nonpay status of 6 months in any calendar year is creditable service. Coverage continues at no cost to the employee while in a nonpay status. When employees are in a nonpay status for only a portion of a pay period, their retirement deductions are adjusted in proportion to their basic pay (5 U.S.C. 8332 and 8411).

High-3 average salary computations are based on periods of creditable service. Thus, periods of nonpay status of 6 months or less in a calendar year that fall within an employee’s average salary period are included in the calculation of the average salary using the rate of basic pay in effect during the period of nonpay status. For example, if a full-time employee whose annual rate of basic pay is $85,000 per year is placed in nonpay status for 3 months, that 3-month period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $85,000 basic pay rate. (If the rate of basic pay changed to $86,500 per year after 2 months of the nonpay period, the first 2 months of the nonpay period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $85,000 basic pay rate and the last month of the nonpay period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $86,500 basic pay rate.)"

Reference: www.opm.gov

NOTE: This information is accurate as of the date of this post: 11-12-2018. Bolding added for emphasis.