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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
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.
Does Social Security Pay for Long-Term Care?
No — there’s no dedicated Social Security long-term-care benefit, and Medicare doesn’t cover most long-term care either. Since about 70% of people turning 65 will need care that can cost over $100,000 a year, here’s who actually pays.
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.
The Maximum Social Security Benefit in 2026, by Age
The most anyone can collect in 2026 ranges from $2,969 a month at 62 to $5,181 at 70 — but almost no one qualifies. Here are the maximums by claiming age, who actually gets them, and why the average check is far smaller.
Does Waiting Until 70 to Claim Social Security Pay Off?
Waiting until 70 gives you the biggest possible check — about 24% more than at full retirement age. But whether it “pays off” depends on how long you live, whether you need the income, and (for couples) the survivor benefit. Here’s how to think it through.
Spousal Social Security Benefits in 2026: 3 Key Rules
A spousal benefit can be worth up to half of your husband’s or wife’s full benefit — but three rules trip people up. Here’s how much you can get, when you can claim, and the “deemed filing” rule that decides for you.
Why Retirees Lean on Social Security More Than IRAs
For most retirees, Social Security — not an IRA or 401(k) — is the financial backbone of retirement. SSA’s own data shows why, and what it means for planning your own income.
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.
The Social Security ‘Tax Torpedo,’ Explained
The “tax torpedo” is a quirk that can push a middle-income retiree’s real tax rate far above their bracket — because each extra dollar of income can make more of your Social Security benefit taxable too. Here’s how it works and how people plan around it.
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.
When Do Most People Claim Social Security?
Most people claim early — about a third start at 62, and only about 1 in 10 wait until 70, even though research says waiting maximizes lifetime income for most. Here’s what the data shows and why your timing is one of the biggest retirement decisions you’ll make.
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.
Can You Collect Social Security If You Retire Abroad?
Yes — U.S. citizens can usually receive Social Security in most countries, and your benefit amount doesn’t change. But there are real catches: a few countries where SSA can’t pay you, and the big one — Medicare doesn’t come with you.
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.