{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/69c148bb1a160b44db9c8fcc/6a516cd3d2dde6b09a035fcc?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Will Social Security be there for you?","description":"<p><strong>1036. Is Social Security in trouble, or is it just a lot of political noise? Laura answers a listener’s question about what the changes to the retirement fund mean for your financial future. You’ll learn the new tax caps that employees and the self-employed must pay and how to protect your retirement safety net.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key takeaways</strong></p><ul><li>According to the latest 2026 Trustees Report, the Social Security retirement fund is now projected to face a shortfall by 2032, sooner than previous estimates.</li><li>The Social Security wage base has increased to $184,500 for 2026. High earners will pay a maximum of $11,439 as employees, while the self-employed face a maximum cap of $22,878.</li><li>Retirement benefits for Social Security participants are based on your highest 35 years of earnings.</li><li>While you can claim benefits as early as age 62, doing so permanently reduces your benefits by about 30%.&nbsp;</li><li>Delaying benefits past your Full Retirement Age (FRA) pays 8% more per year until age 70.</li><li>Social Security benefits may be taxable if your \"combined income\" (AGI + tax-exempt interest + 50% of benefits) exceeds modest thresholds.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Discover more from Money Girl!</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook</a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/money-girl-newsletterhttps://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Newsletter</a></p><p>Transcripts available at <a href=\"https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/transcripts/money-girl/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">QuickandDirtyTips.com</a>.</p><p>Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"QuickAndDirtyTips.com"}