By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist June is Pride Month. It’s a time to acknowledge the LGBTQ+community, and also celebratediversity, love, and respect. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, holding that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in all states. We recognize same-sex couples’ marriages in all states, and some non-marital legal … Continue reading Social Security’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist  Question:  I prefer reading by audio book. Does Social Security have audio publications? Answer: Yes, we do. You can find them at www.ssa.gov/pubs. Some of the publications available include What You Can Do Online, Working While Disabled – How We Can Help, Apply Online for Social Security Benefits, and Your Social Security Card and Number. You can listen now at www.ssa.gov/pubs.  Question: I am receiving … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 37

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist  On Memorial Day, our nation honors military service members who have given their lives for our country.  Families, friends, and communities pause to remember the many great sacrifices of our military and ensure their legacy lives on in the freedoms we all enjoy.  We recognize these heroes who, in President Lincoln’s words, “gave the last full measure … Continue reading Social Security honors our military heroes

Retirement is a goal we work towards throughout our lifetime, and ultimately should be a goal we enjoy. Retirement does take a substantial amount of planning and it is easy to become overwhelmed with retirement planning.  Have I saved enough? When do I know when I can afford to stop working? What retirement mistakes can I avoid? These are the ongoing  and never ending questions … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Resources that can help you with your retirement planning

Via WPSU | By Valeria Quiñones | News Lab at Penn State Kathy Dodson, 67, has been working at the Poof-Slinky factory in Hollidaysburg for 30 years. She said she still hopes to retire soon, but she recently suffered a blood clot that sent her to the hospital and into debt. Dodson said she needs to quit working in order to move into low-income housing, … Continue reading Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Navigating Inflation: Some older workers in Blair County say retirement is out of reach

Via the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis By Owen Davis Most U.S. households got an unexpected financial boost during the pandemic, a result of both reduced consumer spending and robust stimulus programs. Yet as government spending programs have lapsed and high inflation has persisted, those financial cushions have deflated. Economists at JPMorgan Chase now expect aggregate “excess savings” to be depleted by mid-2023—a position … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Older Households’ Financial Fragility

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist The Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) continued to raise public awareness about Social Security imposter scams during the fourth annual “Slam the Scam” Day held in March.  Social Security scams — where fraudsters pressure victims into making cash or gift card payments to fix alleged Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest – … Continue reading Slam the scam with Social Security

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Question: If I retire at age 62, will I be eligible for Medicare? Answer: No. Medicare starts when you reach 65. If you retire at 62, you may be able to continue medical insurance coverage through your employer or purchase it from a private insurance company until you become eligible for Medicare. For more information, read Medicare … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 36

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Social Security benefits factor into the retirement plan of almost every American worker.  If you are covered under Social Security, you should know how much you might receive in future benefits.  These monthly payments are likely to be an important part of your retirement income. We base your benefit payment on how much you earned during your … Continue reading Plan your retirement with Social Security

By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Social Security achieved the highest score of any federal government agency on the Center for Plain Language’s 2022 Federal Plain Language Report Card. Our policies and programs can sometimes be complex and difficult to explain. That’s why we always strive to use plain language that is clear, easy to understand, and useful. The Center evaluated 21 Executive … Continue reading Social Security’s plain language makes the grade