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Social Security news
Curated daily from official SSA channels and trusted independent sources. Each item links out to the original.
Articles
Sanders' $2,400 Social Security Boost, Explained
The Social Security Expansion Act would add $200 a month to every benefit check, funded by taxing income above $250,000 — and Sanders is pitching it as the alternative to the fast-track PROMISE Act. It's a bill with long odds, not a coming raise. Here's what it would do and who would pay.
The $100,000 Social Security Benefit Cap, Explained
A budget watchdog has proposed capping Social Security benefits at $100,000 a year per couple — but it's a think-tank idea, not a bill, and by its authors' own math it would initially affect only about the top 0.05% of couples. Here's how it would work and where it fits in the solvency debate.
Survey: Seniors Back Taxes on Young to Save Benefits
89% of Americans 65 and older say current retirees' benefits should be protected even if it means higher taxes on younger workers, a Cato Institute/YouGov survey found — but only 53% of adults under 30 agree. Here's the generational divide behind Social Security's funding debate — and where the parties actually agree.
SSDI Back Pay: How Much You're Owed
SSDI back pay is what Social Security owes you for the months between when your disability began and when you're approved — often a five-figure lump sum. It's calculated from your onset date minus a 5-month wait, and can reach up to 17 months before you applied.
Social Security Cuts by State: The 2032 Numbers
If Congress doesn’t act before the trust fund runs short in 2032, benefits would be cut about 24% across the board — an average of $500 a month. A state-by-state analysis shows cuts ranging from $459 to $556, hitting the oldest states hardest. See your state’s numbers.
Could Raising the Payroll Tax Save Social Security?
Raising Social Security’s 12.4% payroll tax is one of the few levers big enough to close its funding gap. The 2026 Trustees Report puts that gap at 4.42% of taxable payroll — meaning the rate would need to reach about 16.8% to fund full benefits for 75 years. Here’s what that would cost.
SSDI and Medicare: How the 24-Month Wait Really Works
Medicare doesn’t start when your SSDI is approved — it starts 24 months after your benefits are dated to begin. Because a disability claim is backdated to when you became disabled, a slow decision or a won appeal can mean much of that wait is already behind you.
Two Bipartisan Plans to Fix Social Security
Two new bipartisan proposals to shore up Social Security are getting attention: one would lift the cap on wages subject to the payroll tax, the other would borrow $1.5 trillion to invest in the markets. Neither is law. Here’s what each would do — and the criticism each faces.
A New Bill Would Repeal Social Security’s Earnings Test
A bill in Congress would scrap the rule that withholds benefits from people who claim early and keep working. It’s not law — and there’s a catch most coverage skips: those withheld benefits aren’t actually lost. Here’s what it would do and the trade-offs.
A New Bipartisan Push to Fix Social Security’s Shortfall
With Social Security’s trust fund headed for trouble around 2032, lawmakers are pushing "process" bills to force action — a House commission bill and the Senate’s PROMISE Act, now opposed by AARP over process and by Sen. Sanders over what it could produce. Nothing is law yet. Here’s what each would do and the full menu of fixes, explained neutrally.
How to Appeal a Social Security Decision
If Social Security denies your claim or makes a decision you disagree with, you can appeal — but you usually have just 60 days, and there are four levels. Here’s how the process works and how to act fast.
May Inflation Rose to 4.2%: What It Means for the COLA
Inflation jumped to 4.2% in May — the highest in three years — mostly on an oil-price spike. It nudges 2027 Social Security COLA estimates up, but two facts keep it from being a 4.2% raise: the COLA uses a different index, and only July through September counts.
What the New Inflation Report Means for the 2027 COLA
A fresh inflation report lands June 10, and it will hint at where the 2027 Social Security COLA is heading. But here is the catch most coverage skips: it won’t actually count toward the COLA — only July through September will.
Why October Is a Big Month for Social Security
Every October, Social Security reveals the most important numbers for the year ahead — the COLA, and the figures that travel with it. Here is what gets announced, why it happens then, and when it takes effect.
2027 COLA Estimate: What 3.8% Could Mean at Age 62
The leading estimate puts the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment at 3.8% — which would add roughly $52 a month to a typical 62-year-old’s benefit. But it is only a forecast; the official number won’t arrive until October 2026.