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What to Know for Wednesday, May 27th, 2026: |
1: Need $176,100 annual earnings to qualify for maximum Social Security benefit — max checks range $2,831-$5,108 |
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(Image Credit: Associated Press) |
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Earn at least annual taxable wage cap of $176,100 to maximize benefits: Social Security calculates benefits from your 35 highest earning years adjusted for inflation — "higher lifetime earnings mean you receive higher Social Security benefits," and to qualify for maximum benefit in 2025, you need consistent history of earning at least the annual maximum taxable wage cap of $176,100. Maximum monthly benefit ranges $2,831 (age 62) to $5,108 (age 70): If you retire at Full Retirement Age (67 for those born after 1960) with maximum earnings history, maximum benefit is $4,043/month — claiming at 62 cuts this to $2,831 (0.5% reduction per month before FRA), while waiting until 70 increases it to $5,108 (8% increase per year after FRA). Your benefit is determined by 4 factors: work history, earnings, birth year, and claiming age: Birth year determines your Full Retirement Age (when you can claim full benefits without penalty) — you can claim as early as 62 but with significant penalty, or delay until 70 for maximum benefit, so "the age at which you first claim benefits" is a critical factor in your monthly check amount.
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➜ Read the full article from AL.com here. |
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2: SSI checks for June 2026 arrive Monday, June 1 — normal schedule continues through August |
June 2026 SSI payment on regular schedule: Supplemental Security Income checks go out Monday, June 1, 2026 — third of four consecutive months with payments on the 1st, continuing through August when checks will arrive July 31 (because Aug. 1 is Saturday) — SSI typically issued on first day of month, but early when first falls on weekend or holiday. Nearly 7.4 million Americans receive SSI monthly: Supplemental Security Income serves those aged 65 or older, blind, disabled, or children with qualifying disability who have limited or no income/resources — about one-third of SSI recipients also receive regular Social Security benefits. Work earnings limit: $2,073/month disqualifies most adults: Adults earning more than $2,073 monthly typically don't qualify for SSI — to check eligibility, visit SSA website at ssa.gov/ssi/eligibility, go in person to local Social Security office, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time during work week.
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➜ Read the full article from USA Today here. |
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3: New Medicare card notice? Verify legitimacy before acting — watch for plastic card and activation scams |
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(Image Credit: Getty Images) |
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Verify by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or checking Medicare.gov account: If you receive notice of new Medicare card and number, call the number on back of your current card (1-800-MEDICARE / 1-800-633-4227) or log into your Medicare.gov account to check for updates — Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services sends new cards if your Medicare number has been compromised due to fraud or data breach, but won't provide details about what happened. Red flag: legitimate new card is PAPER, not plastic: Scams reported across the country where people receive PLASTIC Medicare cards with instructions to call a number to activate them — "your new Medicare card will be paper, not plastic" and if you get a plastic card, it's likely a scam. You do NOT need to activate your new Medicare card: "Anyone asking you to activate it may be attempting to scam you" — legitimate Medicare will never ask you to activate a new card, so if you receive a notice requesting activation, do not comply and report it as a scam.
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➜ Read the full article from WGAL here. |
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Here’s What You Missed on YouTube: |
Check out our new YouTube videos for Wednesday, May 27th. |
These Four Debts Can Garnish Your Social Security — Find Out What They Are |
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Yes — These 4 Debts Can Garnish Your Social Security |
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This newsletter is for information only. Always confirm your options directly with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or a qualified advisor before making big decisions about your benefits. |
*View our Advertising Disclosure |
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