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☆ Trump promised no taxes on Social Security benefits. It's too soon to plan on that change, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made a notable promise to retirees: No taxes on Social Security benefits. Any changes to Social Security would require at least 60 Senate votes, and Republicans would therefore need some Democratic support to pass those changes. "It's hard for me to imagine that Democrats would be willing to provide votes to get over that 60-vote threshold and weaken Social Security solvency," said Charles Blahous, senior research strategist at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, who has also served as a public trustee for Social Security and Medicare. The Trump campaign has pushed back on those findings, calling the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget "consistently wrong" in a statement to CNBC when the report was released. The Social Security trust fund used to help pay retirement benefits is projected to run out in 2033, according to the program's actuaries.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Charles Blahous, — Organizations: Presidential, Convention Center, Republican, Social Security, Senate, George Mason University, Medicare, Finance, Budget, CNBC, program's Locations: Palm Beach, West Palm Beach , Florida, U.S

☆ Here's why the Social Security COLA is smaller for 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Social Security Administration on Thursday announced that the cost-of-living adjustment will be 2.5% in 2025. When that increase goes into effect, it will be the lowest adjustment to benefits that beneficiaries have seen since 2021, when the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, was 1.3%. The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment was put in place to help benefits keep pace with inflation. More from Personal Finance:Social Security Administration announces 2.5% COLA for 2025House may force vote on bill affecting pensioners' Social Security benefits72% of Americans worry Social Security will run out in their lifetimeAs government inflation data shows the pace of inflation has subsided, the size of the annual increase to benefits has come down. The 2025 adjustment is not the lowest the Social Security COLA has been.

Persons: Charles Blahous, George Mason University's, Social Security COLA Organizations: Social Security Administration, Social Security, Urban, Clerical Workers, CPI, Finance

☆ 'Nobody's getting wealthy on Social Security,' lawmaker says. The November election may influence the program's future
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Protect Social Security!" In 1983, when the last major Social Security reforms were enacted, there were no benefit enhancements, Larson argued. Today, annual earnings of up to $168,600 are subject to a 6.2% payroll tax toward Social Security paid by both workers and employers. Larson's plan also calls for closing loopholes that allow wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying Social Security taxes on other income. Larson said the public is well aware that Social Security benefits are theirs and they've paid for them.

Persons: Kean, Dave Kotinsky, Larson, they've, John Larson, Conn, Mark Wilson, Nancy Altman, Drew Ferguson, Ferguson, Jodey Arrington, Charles Blahous, Blahous Organizations: Getty, hasn't, Social Security, Security, Social, Capitol, Democratic, Republican, Republican House, Republicans, George Mason University Locations: Bridgewater , New Jersey, Jan, Georgia, Texas

☆ Here’s why Social Security and Medicare advocates fear Mike Johnson’s speakership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Here’s what’s not up for debate: Social Security and Medicare are in financial trouble, and the nation’s debt is on an unsustainable trajectory. Spending on Social Security and Medicare is projected to soar as the nation ages, putting more pressure on Congress to address the programs. Advocates’ concernsAdvocates, however, argue that lawmakers can hide behind the debt commission and avoid taking individual blame for agreeing to benefit cuts. “The new speaker has made it clear he’s not a friend to seniors, Social Security or Medicare,” said Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. “So if you want to keep Social Security solid, you have to do all that stuff and a lot more.”This story has been updated with additional information.

Persons: Mike Johnson, shivers, Johnson, Here’s what’s, ”, That’ll, it’s, Max Richtman, “, Joe Biden, Biden, Charles Blahous, ” Blahous Organizations: CNN, Social Security, Republican, Medicare, Congressional, Office, American Enterprise Institute, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, George Mason University, Committee, RSC

But she isn’t certain that it will be enough, even with her Social Security benefits. Charles Blahous, a former Social Security trustee, said the annual COLA announcement is a reminder about the program's stressed finances. Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at the Senior Citizens League, says her organization supports the Social Security Administration using whichever index is higher to best protect older people from inflation. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes for 2023 is $160,200, up from $147,000 in 2022. There have been legislative proposals to shore up Social Security, but they have not made it past committee hearings.

Persons: Karla Abbott, she’s, Charles Blahous, Mary Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Abbott, Alfred Mason, Mason, Jo Ann Jenkins, ” Johnson, “, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Social Security, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Senior Citizens League, Social Security Administration, Security, Social, AARP, Senior Citizens Locations: Sioux Falls , South Dakota, Washington, Louisiana

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