BottomLineInc | Average Social Security Check by Age

Published: March 14, 2025

The Social Security Administration stopped mailing out benefits estimates back in 2011, leaving many of us unclear about how large our Social Security payments will be when we retire. Bottom Line Personal asked Social Security expert Martha Shedden about the average Social Security benefits and the key factors that affect the size of benefits.

Newsweek | Social Security, Medicare Bill Would Speed Up Benefits for Cancer Patients

Published: March 13, 2025

Martha Shedden, president and cofounder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, told Newsweek: “Patients with metastatic breast cancer face significant financial and medical hardships, struggling to support themselves and access the critical care they need. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease, under the current rules, many do not live long enough to utilize the SSDI and Medicare benefits they qualify for.”

TheStreet | Protect Your Social Security Benefits As DOGE Cuts 7,000 SSA Jobs, Closes Offices

Published: March 4, 2025

Need help for yourself or a loved one navigating the Social Security journey? Shedden suggests using the database at www.rssa.com/find-an-rssa to find nearby Registered Social Security Analyst — financial professionals and advisers with additional Social Security-specific education and expertise — to assist you.

U.S. News & World Report | Social Security in 2025: Experts Weigh in on How the Trump Administration’s Plans Could Reshape Retirement

Published: February 21, 2025

About 40% of Social Security beneficiaries pay income tax on up to 85% of their benefits. However, “If Social Security makes up a very large portion, if not all, of your retirement income, your Social Security will not be taxed,” according to Martha Shedden, co-founder and president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts in Melville, New York.

U.S. News & World Report | How Trump’s Mass Deportations Could Lower the Social Security Trust Funds

Published: February 18, 2025

The president has no initiative to transition these workers to legal employment. “They don’t have a path to citizenship right now,” according to Martha Shedden, co-founder and president of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts.

Investment News | First year of Social Security benefits: What happens if you retire midyear?

Published: February 5, 2025

“The first-year retirement rule is part of the Social Security retirement earnings test (RET),” explained Martha Shedden, president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts (NARSSA). “[It] applies to individuals who file for retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before reaching FRA – for most retirees, age 67 – and those who continue working and earning income over the RET limits (annual or monthly).”