When people think about retirement, the first question is usually whether they have saved enough. But just as important is understanding where retirement income actually comes from and how reliable those sources tend to be over time. For most retirees, income does not come from a single place. Instead, it is a combination of guaranteed … Read more
A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling requiring a former federal employee to repay $40,749 after she allegedly failed to properly notify the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that she had been approved for Social Security disability benefits. According to court records, the case, Navarro v. Office of Personnel Management (CAFC No. 2025-1612), centers … Read more
The upcoming changes at the Social Security Administration trace back to a major staffing announcement made in February 2025, when the agency revealed plans for widespread employee layoffs. At the time, projections suggested that at least 7,000 jobs could be eliminated from an overall workforce of roughly 60,000 employees. The news immediately raised alarms about … Read more
In recent months, many Americans have seen headlines suggesting that the government is raising the Social Security retirement age again. Online discussions about “goodbye to retirement at 67” have grown louder, leading some people to believe major changes are coming in 2026. In reality, no new increase has been approved. What’s happening instead is the … Read more
The Social Security Administration is preparing to change how it processes many benefit cases, moving from a locally based system to a national workload model. While the shift has raised concerns among advocates and policy experts, it does not mean local offices are closing or that benefits themselves are changing. Instead, the update reflects how … Read more
As 2026 gets underway, many retirees and other Americans are watching for updates about a $2,000 payment from the Internal Revenue Service. Unlike the broad stimulus checks issued during the 2020-21 pandemic, this January 2026 payment is not a universal federal stimulus check approved by Congress, and it is not officially labeled as one by … Read more