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--- social_security [2025/12/10 03:56] – [US Social Security for Travelers] jhagstrand
+++ social_security [2026/01/05 13:06] (current) – [COLA] jhagstrand
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 Social Security lawyers appear to work only on disability claims. I don’t see anyone working on foreign residency issues.
+Not everyone has the discipline to save and invest to prepare for retirement.  That was the genius of the Social Security program.  It is a required retirement investment program for everyone who works.
 === RS 02655.001 The Foreign Enforcement Program (FEP) ===
@@ Line 38: / Line 42: @@
 Mine are called retirement benefits.\\
 https://www.ssa.gov/retirement
+Program Operations Manual System (POMS)\\
+https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202605200
 ==== Web Interface ====
@@ Line 45: / Line 54: @@
 Branded mySocialSecurity.\\
 For contact and login info, see [[SSA]] in the address book.
+Things you can do on the website:
+  * See the amount you receive and the next payment date.
+  * Use the secure message portal to read statements and messages.
+  * In December, read you COLA letter to see the calculation of next year's benefit amount.
+  * In late December or early January, download the "initial" 1099  document
+  * Review the deduction amounts for Medicare.
+==== COLA ====
+Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
+The percentage increase in benefits is calculated and published in December each year.
+In Dec 2025, the amount was 2.8%.
+You receive a COLA letter each December which informs you of your future payment amount, after the COLA percentage increase has been applied.
+==== SSA-1099 ====
+After your December payment as been made to you, usually December 3, they calculate and print your SSA-1099 document and put it in the mail.  This is also sent to your secure message portal on the SSA website, described as the "initial" 1099.  Normally you can download this document and use it with your 1040 tax return.
+It is described as "initial" because there are rare circumstances where a person could incur charges or payments in the later part of December after this first printing, and this would require a "correction".
 ==== Statistics ====
@@ Line 50: / Line 81: @@
 Number of US citizens:
-  * residing abroad: 5.7 to 9 million
+| receiving Social Security         |       50 million|
-  * receiving SSA: 50 million
+| residing abroad                   | 5.7 to 9 million|
-  * receiving SSA outside the US: 760,000
+| receiving SocSec outside the US   |          760,000|
-  * receiving SSA administered from Philippines FBU: 90,000
+| administered from Philippines FBU |           90,000|
 ==== Getting Social Security benefits if you are living outside the U.S. ====
@@ Line 78: / Line 109: @@
 In 1970 the trust fund assets were stolen, and the system was converted to a Ponzi Scam.
+The Social Security Act, passed in 1935, created
+Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)
+Social Security is funded primarily through payroll taxes called the
+Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)
+Self Employed Contributions Act (SECA).
+Wage and salary earnings from covered employment, up to an amount determined by law (see tax rate table), are subject to the Social Security payroll tax. Wage and salary earnings above this amount are not taxed. In 2026, the maximum amount of taxable earnings is $184,500.[10]
+"pay as you go"