Money

In the fabric of society, few programs have woven themselves as deeply into the American culture as Social Security. The economic devastation of the Great Depression further exposed society's vulnerabilities, with millions of older Americans in poverty and many more at risk of financial ruin. In response, the Social Security Act was signed into law to better ensure a measure of income security for older Americans in retirement.

For most of us, Social Security is – or will be -- essential for helping to cover daily living expenses and pay bills as we get older. The bottom line is that Social Security is your money, earned through a lifetime of hard work. Yet there are persistent misconceptions about its long-term financial stability and how it works. Here are facts behind five of the most stubborn Social Security myths.

How Much Will I Receive in Social Security?

Social Security is your money — you earned it through a lifetime of hard work. And like most Americans, that money is needed to help cover living expenses and pay bills. Nearly one in four Mississippi residents – 681,219 people – receive Social Security benefits, and 55 percent of residents 65 and older rely on the program for at least half of their income.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is providing free in-person and virtual tax assistance and preparation in Mississippi now through April 18. The nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program helped secure more than $1 billion in refunds for more than 1.2 million taxpayers last year. Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required.

Medicare changes every year, which means it can get a little complicated when trying to understand what’s new for you. Join us for a free webinar where we’ll discuss the key takeaways from this year’s Medicare changes and what they may mean for your benefits.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program offers taxpayers free assistance in filing returns, focusing on those 50 and older or low- to moderate-income people.

Is your 65th birthday coming up? You know what that means: It’s time to prepare for Medicare. Get ahead of the game with answers from our free webinar on Medicare, including when to enroll, what’s covered and where to find help along the way.

AARP Mississippi and the Mississippi Public Service Commission will host a Broadband Tech Night Workshop at the Collins Civic Center, located on 3220 U.S. 49 in Collins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019. The workshop will feature AARP Mississippi representatives and Sam Britton, Southern District Public Service Commissioner.

Learn essential networking and interviewing skills at our free, two-part webinar.