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Social Security news, explained — for the people who depend on it and the professionals who guide them.
Curated coverage from SSA, the Office of the Inspector General, AARP, and policy research groups. Plus tools and a free weekly newsletter.
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For Individuals & Retirees
Claiming, payments, benefits
When to claim, how much you'll get, payment schedules, spousal and survivor benefits — in plain English.
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Policy, legislation, program admin
Trustees reports, OIG findings, regulatory changes, and Capitol Hill activity — built for advisors, attorneys, and policy staff.
Browse professional briefingsLatest news
All newsGetting a $90 Check? It’s the Medicare Rebate
A surprise $90 payment from Social Security this month is most likely real — a one-time Medicare rebate to offset your October Part B premium, sent to 20M+ enrollees. Here's who gets it, when, and how to tell it apart from the scams that impersonate it.
Bill: Full Retirement at 60 for Physical Jobs
A new bill, the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 10608), would let workers in physically demanding jobs — construction, roofing, nursing, manufacturing, HVAC — claim their full benefit at 60 instead of 67. It's a proposal, not law. Here's what it would do.
Audits: SSA Underpaid Some Disabled Beneficiaries
Two new OIG audits found SSA didn't always pay disabled beneficiaries and their families everything they were owed — an estimated $27.9M to families on the retirement family maximum, and $1.2M in disabled-adult-child claims. Here's what to check and how to ask for a review.
Trump Proposes Mandatory Prison for Benefits Fraud
President Trump has called on Congress to set mandatory minimum prison terms for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security fraud. It's a proposal, not current law, and it doesn't affect honest beneficiaries. Here's what it would do and what the law already is.
Social Security Paper Checks Are Ending: What to Do
Social Security is phasing out paper checks under a 2025 federal order. If you still get a mailed check, you'll need direct deposit or a Direct Express® card to keep getting paid. Here's how to switch, the limited waiver, and the scams to watch for.
Social Security Survivor Benefits: Who Gets What
Survivor benefits pay monthly income to a deceased worker's family — a spouse from age 60, children, sometimes parents. A new bipartisan bill would finally let survivors apply online. Here's who qualifies, how much they get, and how to claim without costly delay.
New Rule for Evaluating Disability in Young Adults
Social Security's new rule, SSR 26-2p, effective October 1, 2026, clarifies how it evaluates disability for young adults (roughly 18–25) — leaning on school, medical, and functional evidence when work history is thin. Here's what changes and how to prepare.
Got a Social Security Overpayment Notice? What to Do
If Social Security says it overpaid you and wants the money back, you can appeal, request a waiver, or ask for a smaller repayment — and a recent audit found many of these notices were flawed. Here are your options and the deadlines that protect you.
What Is SSI? Plus $291M in Unpaid Benefits Found
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based benefit for people who are 65+, blind, or disabled with limited income — and a new audit found SSA failed to pay about $291 million owed to recipients and survivors. Here's what SSI is and how to check if you're owed.
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Benefits Estimator
Estimate your monthly retirement benefit using the official PIA formula, with optional spousal and survivor estimates.
Disability (SSDI) Calculator
Estimate your monthly SSDI benefit, your family total with dependents, and your potential back pay.
COLA Tracker
See the current cost-of-living adjustment, find your payment dates by birthday, and view 20+ years of COLA history.
Glossary & FAQ
Plain-language definitions of essential Social Security terms, searchable and filterable by audience.
Resource Directory
A curated directory of official SSA and Medicare calculators, forms, publications, and research.
Quick answers
All guidesHow much will I get from Social Security?
Your benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years and the age you claim — anywhere from 62 (reduced) to 70 (maximum).
Estimate your benefitCan I work while collecting benefits?
Yes. But before full retirement age, Social Security temporarily withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above an annual limit — and repays it later, so it isn’t lost.
How the earnings test worksAre Social Security benefits taxed?
Up to 85% of your benefit can be federally taxable, depending on your total income. A new senior deduction (2025–2028) shields many retirees from that tax.
See if yours are taxableWhen will my payment arrive this month?
Retirement and disability benefits arrive on a Wednesday set by your birth date — the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday. SSI arrives on the 1st.
Check the 2026 scheduleWhat if my claim is denied?
You can appeal — but you generally have only 60 days, and there are four levels, starting with reconsideration. Many claims that ultimately succeed do so on appeal.
How to appeal, step by stepIs Social Security going away?
No. Even if Congress did nothing, incoming payroll taxes would still cover about 78% of benefits after the trust fund’s projected 2032 depletion — and Congress has always acted before a cut.
What the 2032 date really meansGet the free 2026 Social Security Cheat Sheet
The key numbers, claiming ages, and a pre-claim checklist — on one page. Plus a short, plain-English weekly update. No hype, no spam.
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