That's one hard lesson about Social Security. Another is that when it's time to claim, you can't depend on the Social Security Administration to be your personal adviser.
In an effort to save time and cut costs, Social Security employees generally don't give case-specific advice. So that means you are on your own to make the most important financial decision of a lifetime. You have to read the rules and do the research yourself.
William Meyer, whose website, Social Security Solutions, gives Social Security advice for a fee, says you also can't depend on Social Security to follow instructions you give them electronically. If you have a request that is not the most common choice, you'll need to go to the Social Security office and make the request in person, he says.
Read on to brush up on Social Security benefits that are not commonly known. CLICK HERE.
This is exactly what I need, too, but the angels are few and far between. I actually CAN afford the monthly payments on the house where I have lived since I was 17 years old and where I was my mother's sole caregiver for 30 years but my Disability income was not enough to pay property taxes so I am also going to be homeless.
It will kill me. I use life support and there's no place to plug that in when you lay down on a sidewalk to go to sleep at night.
I am crippled with arthritis and heart failure and COPD and diabetes but I'm going to be taking that act to the street when I lose my mother's home.
I know EXACTLY how this lady feels. And I have no one helping me at the moment.
READ THIS OTHER LADY'S STORY. Maybe you can help her.
Well, if you are planning out your future and where you might want to live after retirement, this would be a good article to read. Different factors like climate, economy, etc. were used to determine the ten worst-rated States for retirement. Hint: The State of Maine with its cold climate and high cost of living ranks it near the bottom.
Read the article HERE. The list was compiled by AARP.
Good grief, when did that happen? I remember when I was little, that I drank tea to please my maternal Grandmother who wanted to instruct me on proper tea party etiquette (just in case I happen to meet up with the Queen of England in the suburbs of Los Angeles). And, because we were an Air Force family, I have very vague wispy ghosts of memories of being served tea in a formal Japanese tea ceremony by my Japanese nanny. Since I was 18 months old when we returned home to the States, all of my memories of that time are very wispy indeed. I also remember a bamboo kind of Morticia Adams chair that I loved to curl up in but mostly all of that time are just ghosts of memories, not very strong memories at all.
I remember in college taking the time to re-learn the Japanese ceremony then practicing on my college friends. This was late 60's, early 70's and we were very much "into" experiencing new cultures. For me to go with the Japanese thing was a bit of a cheat since it wasn't actually new in that sense. Not to me.
So, last night my brain just wasn't ready for sleep even though the rest of me was tired and ready for bed. Normally, I get mellow with a cup of coffee. Coffee perks most folks up but for me, it has a calming effect. But, last night, my tummy was being a bit temperamental and sent up the message, "No more coffee!" The tummy had also had enough hot chocolate (my usual Plan B when coffee is not acceptable).
I needed something.
Then, I remembered the bag of tea samples I was given last month by the local food bank. I go there once a month and beg for the scraps that people donate by cleaning out the junk in their cupboards. When your only income is Disability and you can't pay bills or buy food, other peoples' scraps become your lifeline.
The man who was my volunteer helping me go through the place was very excited about what appeared to be a huge bag filled with individual serving samples of coffee. Coffee is my mainstay and it is a rare treasure that almost never shows up at the food bank. If I ever have money again, I'm donating a lot of food to this food bank and for sure, I'm donating a helluva lot of coffee.
So, I got home and I discover that it's mostly all samples of tea and I'm no longer a tea drinker. I don't drink tea. At all. But, being destitute (poor beyond poor), I never throw anything out.
And last night, when I needed a hot cup of something and coffee was not the answer, I decided to try a bit of Earl Grey tea and I liked it! That was a huge surprise.
I learned something new about myself. And I've got dozens of bags of Earl Grey and English Breakfast Tea to go.
The only thing I lack is a rocking chair on the front porch.
Important information to have. FIRST ARTICLE HERE. SECOND ARTICLE HERE.
The roadblocks to a successful retirement have become more frequent and severe, ranging from Wall Street and housing meltdowns to rising healthcare costs and concerns about the long-term stability of Social Security, pensions, and government safety net programs. But according to a new study by MetLife and the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University, there are common ways that people are stepping up to create better outcomes for their retirement years.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
Since Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935, few workers have not been impacted by the social program. Almost all Americans pay into the system, and Social Security is the largest source of income for citizens age 65 and older. Yet this huge entitlement has many facets, some of which are not widely known.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
The age you first sign up for Social Security can impact the payout you will receive for the rest of your life. Here are some strategies to maximize your monthly benefit.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
Social Security recipients will see bigger payments this year for the first time since 2009. But the future of Social Security taxes for workers remains uncertain. The 2011 payroll tax holiday has been extended only through the end of February and is scheduled to increase in March under current law. Here's a look at the Social Security changes workers and retirees will experience this year.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
AARP - Worksearch - Looking to reenter the workforce? Want to upgrade from your current job?AARP Foundation’s free WorkSearch resources can help older workers. These online tools let you "virtually" explore new careers, assess and improve work skills, identify training programs and find meaningful employment.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) - from Goodwill Industries - At Goodwill®, we help seniors find work, develop new skills and talents, and build their financial security by taking advantage of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). SCSEP is an on-the-job training and employment program designed to help those aged 55 and older update their jobs skills, build work experience and confidence, and continue to have economic security and well-being.
SeniorJobBank.org - Find Jobs for Boomers and Seniors in Your Area
