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Beware of These Five Social Security Myths – They Could End Up Costing You Plenty

Here at Life Point Law we are constantly being reminded that there is a vast amount of misinformation out there about Social Security. This program, so important to senior Americans, is widely misunderstood – so much so that thousands of retirees are making decisions every year that can end up costing them a lot of money over the course of their retirement.

Correct These Social Security Myths and Clear Away the Retirement Fog

To help counter all the erroneous assumptions and bogus “facts” people cling to about Social Security, we are always on the lookout for articles for the AgingOptions blog that can help clear away the fog and provide reliable information. After all, our goal is to help men and women make the right decisions for their retirement so that they can protect their assets, avoid becoming a burden to their loved ones, and escape the trap of being forced against their will into a nursing home.

With that goal in mind, we want to bring back to your attention this helpful article that was published last year on the NerdWallet financial website. Written by frequent contributor Liz Weston, the column lists five common myths about Social Security and then sets the record straight about each one. These may not be “new news” to you, but if you have someone in your life who frequently spouts misinformation about Social Security, Liz Weston’s column may be a good place to refer them.

The Number of People Filing Early Shows the Power of Social Security Myths

The NerdWallet article starts with one of the leading indicators of Social Security misinformation: the age at which people file for monthly payments. “Researchers tell us that most people would be better off waiting to claim Social Security benefits,” writes Weston. “Yet most people file early.” Indeed, about one-third start taking benefits at the earliest allowable age, 62, even though they are permanently locking in a significantly lower monthly payment for the rest of their lives. According to the article, barely 4 percent of applicants hold out to receive maximum benefits at age 70.

Why do people grab their benefits at the first opportunity and leave so much money on the table? “Some people have little choice, of course,” Weston acknowledges. “They may have no savings and no job.” However, she adds, the irony is that many retirees “have better options than applying early, but don’t realize it. That’s due in part to the many, many myths surrounding Social Security.” As one example, Weston cites a 2013 financial survey in which more than three-fourths of pre-retirees said they felt confident about their Social Security knowledge – but when asked eight questions about how the program works, 95 percent answered at least some questions incorrectly.

Social Security Myths: People Don’t Understand the Benefits of Waiting

Here are Liz Weston’s five myths about Social Security – the ones, as she puts it, that are “most likely to cost you money.”

Social Security Myths: People Worry About the Future

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Learn the basic rules of Medicaid Long-Term Care in Washington from an expert who has helped thousands of people qualify for these life-saving benefits. Written by elder law attorney Aaron Paker, this easy-to-read book explains the rules in language everyone can understand. If you want straight talk about what benefits are available to pay for long-term care for an elderly loved one, this book is a must-read.

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