What Disability, Pensions Mean for Social Security Benefits: Retirement Scan

Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.

What disability, pensions mean for Social Security benefits

Couples need to plan on how they will claim their Social Security retirement benefits if one of them is receiving disability benefits or has a public pension to avoid complications, according to this article on CNBC. A "file-and-suspend" strategy is a recommended option for one of the spouses to maximize the survivor benefit in case one of them dies. Public pensions that are linked to jobs that don't pay Social Security taxes can affect Social Security depending on the benefits clients intend to claim and their work record. The Windfall Elimination Provision applies to retirement benefits while the Government Pension Offset kicks in for spousal and survivor benefits. –CNBC

What happens to Social Security benefits after a guardian dies

In case a guardian of a Social Security beneficiary dies, the program's Representative Payment Program will find an arrangement for managing the beneficiary's Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments, according to an article on USA Today. The Social Security Administration will ask a relative or friends to be the beneficiary's representative payee or qualified organizations if there is no one is able or willing to receive the benefit on his or her behalf. –USA Today

How military service affects your Social Security benefits

A client's military service affects his or her Social Security benefits and the impact depends on when they served in the military, according to this article on MarketWatch. Those who get a military pension may file for a Social Security benefit but there are considerations to make. For instance, their total compensation will be lower if they are collecting a military-disability pension and VA pension payments will also be affected by Social Security payments. –MarketWatch

Social Security Q&A: How do I know I'm getting the right benefit amount?

Retirees who want to make sure they are receiving the right amount of Social Security retirement benefit may request a copy of their covered earnings and make sure the figures are accurate, according to this article on Forbes. They are advised to use commercial software to audit the benefit computation. Social Security may considerably underestimate the benefits for clients who are below the age 60 by as much as 20%. –Forbes

 How private equity funds could jeopardize your retirement

Although including private equity funds to an investment portfolio could boost returns and reduce long-term risk, retirement investors are advised to choose the right funds, according to this article on DailyFinance. Investors are advised to choose private fund managers who rely on major operational improvements to portfolio companies instead of excessive leverage to produce returns, an expert says. "However, with judicious use of leverage, a skilled manager can deliver excellent results." -DailyFinance

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