| What to Know for Monday, February 23, 2026: | 1: Mark Cuban warns of 'back-door' Social Security cuts through reduced staffing |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| Major changes coming March 7: The SSA will launch new systems routing cases nationwide instead of through local offices — this comes after losing over 6,600 employees (11% of the workforce) in 2025, with some states losing up to 19% of their staff and rural field offices closing entirely. Getting help will be harder: The SSA plans to cut in-person visits by more than 50% (from 31 million to just 15 million annually), creating longer wait times and processing errors — Cuban calls this a "back-door way to cut SS benefits" without officially reducing them. What you can do now: Start using online tools at ssa.gov to check your earnings record for errors, delay claiming until age 70 for up to 24% more monthly (8% increase per year after full retirement age), and coordinate with your spouse to maximize household benefits before access becomes more difficult.
| ➜ Read the full story from Yahoo Finance here. | | 2: How much do you really gain by delaying Social Security? Less than you think! | Smaller gains than before: For a couple both turning 67, the financial gain from delaying benefits to age 70 is now only 1% to 5% — much lower than a few years ago because higher interest rates (real rate of 2.3% on 20-year Treasuries) make future dollars worth less today. Split strategy works best for couples: If one spouse's benefit is significantly higher than the other's, the optimal strategy is often for the higher earner to delay until 70 while the lower earner claims at 67 — because the survivor benefit is based on the higher earner's payment. Four key factors to consider: Your health (better health favors delaying), need for longevity insurance (if worried about money at age 98, delay), tax situation (cashing out IRAs or stocks to fund delay may not be worth it), and political risk (means-testing could reduce benefits for higher earners starting in 2033).
| | ➜ Read the full story from Forbes here. | | | 3: What you need to know about Social Security and taxes for 2026 |  | (Image credit: AARP) |
| New $6,000 deduction could lower your tax bill: People age 65+ can deduct up to $6,000 ($12,000 for married couples) from their 2025 taxes if their modified adjusted gross income is under $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (couple) — this could reduce or eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, but the deduction expires after 2028. Up to 85% of benefits can be taxed: If your combined income (AGI + tax-exempt interest + half your Social Security) exceeds $34,000 (single) or $44,000 (couple), up to 85% of your benefits are taxable — these thresholds haven't changed since 1993, so nearly half of recipients now pay taxes compared to less than 10% in 1984. Social Security Fairness Act lump-sum payments could spike your 2025 taxes: If you received a retroactive lump-sum payment in 2025 due to the repeal of WEP/GPO, it counts as 2025 income and could push you into a higher tax bracket — but you can use the IRS lump-sum election to allocate the payment back to the years originally owed.
| ➜ Read the full story from AARP here. | | | Here's What You Missed on YouTube: | Check out our new YouTube videos for Monday, February 23rd. | Is the Promised $2,000 Stimulus Check Dead? |  | It's Over. The $2,000 Check Is Dead — Supreme Court Just Made It Official |
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| What You Need to Know About Divorced Social Security Benefits & How to Claim your 50% Monthly Payment! |  | 50% of Your Ex's Social Security Is Waiting—Most People Miss This |
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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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