6 Ways to Maximize Your Social Security Payout

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We don't need a cut in medicare, that will mean more out of my pocket, for which I am barely getting by on Social Security alone, because I as robbed of my retirement, for I had to retire early because of illness, just a mounth before I would elegible.
My medicine is so expensive.

Laura Barnes of MO 6:22PM November 03, 2009

Not if you want to travel Darvel! Which is what most of us want to do in retirement. Might not be bad to buy up little bits of currency for countries you may want to visit. Buying symbols FXE for Europe, FXA for Australia or FXC for Canada etc. might not be a bad idea. Its the purest way to hedge your purchasing power. If you're content with seeing the good ol' USA, well keep those greenbacks. Just buy a little Gold (GLD) or Silver (SLV) to help with they whole inflation thing!

Joel of CA 2:14AM October 31, 2009

Why is the Government npt giving out raises for 2 years and yet we have put in this system all working years, now they want to cut medicare.

patti of NY 10:50PM October 20, 2009

With the falling value of the dollar, even if you wait longer to start your social security payments, are you really getting more purchasing power for the 'increased' payout?

Darvel J. Silda of CO 7:57PM October 13, 2009

We may have no choice, my husband isn't working, lost his job. We have no unemployment, no job? No brainer, will have to get the SS. I really didn't want to do it thinking waiting was better, he is 63 almost 64. I am 59, wanted to wait and we both get it, but , we have no income. Living on savings, and at this rate, ? thats quick to go? Sad what this country has done to seniors. I am scared to death. None of these programs, clucker or anything else does anything for us the unemployed. Lets see, let me buy a new car and get rid of my junker, oh they expect to be paid. So I am still driving my piece of junk that doesn't even have back up lights. * I had a fairly good life once, I miss it, now I eat less, spend less, definately do less> Have no fun and do nothing but worry about our future.

Diane M of KY 2:23PM October 13, 2009

One concept has been to collect Soc Sec before age 70 and pay it back; keep the interest earned on the proceeds; pay it back at age 70 and qualify for the increased monthly benefit. Two things here to consider - 1) the break even age to get back what you have repaid; 2) the tax consequences when collecting and the problems of getting the tax paid in refunded back. The taz issues are a real complication that noone has addressed in any article I've seen posted. Could someone do a comprehensive analysis and report these issues?

H of AL 12:07PM October 13, 2009

The Federal Government when they reduced the taxes paid by the wealthiest of Americans started to go into the Social Security money to pay for their Federal Budgets. They have been going into it big time
since Ronald Reagan was President, that darling of the wealthy in
America. He was the worst President this country ever had with maybe
the exception of George W Bush. They have been robbing Social Security so they did not have to tax wealthy Americans. Then the brokerage firms commit outright fraud and when it goes boom, the Federal Government comes in and rescues them with taxpayer money again. People go into their Social Security early because they have no jobs and with the unemployment up to close to 10% their is less money going into Social Security. It is highway robbery and it is going to go on and on until they get most of that Social Security money for themselves.

David D. of PA 3:34PM October 12, 2009

All govts are larger mafias than the good ol mafia...its all smoke-n-mirrors for dum joe blow who believes in the honesty of the govts.
How can you stop counting the unemployed as soon as they stops his benefits...did he die...or started a job...or got on line to the soup kitch...why is he not considered UNEMPLOYED anymore...oh yeh if they start counting the 10% will easily go to 20% unemployed...the numbers will look UGLY...thats why!

Fawad Khawaja of NY 1:09PM October 12, 2009

AFTER OBSERVING THE WAY THIS COUNTRY AND GOVERMENET BODY FUNCTIONS I"LL COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE HAD ALOUDED OUR GOVERMENT OFFICIALS TO ROB US IN EVERY WAY THEY CAN THINK OF.AND WITH THAT ASK US TO VOTE FOR THEM SO THAT WE CAN BE ROBBED EVEN MORE. SOCIAL SECURITY TAX ON THE RETIRED.WHAT A JOKE. FIRST YOU COULDN'T AFFORD IT WHEN YOU WERE WORKING AND NOW THE GOVERMENT WANTS TO TAX IT WHEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST.WHAT A JOKE.

SWEET WILLE of SC 12:43PM October 12, 2009