entitlements

Everyone's predicting the worst for Social Security. But should the chance of cuts in a quarter-century really have us in a panic today? Retirement expert Dan Caplinger explains why there's really no need for major changes.

Conservative politicians have spent the past few months venting their ire on America's entitlement programs, and the alleged mass of lazy layabouts who make use of them. But a closer look at who actually lands in the social safety net reveals some surprising facts.

It's a tough time to be old in America, and it's worse than you may realize: According to a recent report, on average, if government benefits were taken out of the equation, the elderly would have far less income than they'd need to survive. Here's where the problem is worst.

Described as a "fear tactic" by critics, the White House warned Tuesday that if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling soon, come August, millions of Social Security recipients may find themselves without a check. The comments were met with a firestorm of criticism by seniors and their advocates.

It took about 10 years of decisions for the federal budget to get more than a trillion dollars out of whack, and it's going to take at least five years to balance it again. The only way to do it is piece-by-piece, with equal sacrifices from both Republicans and Democrats.

Here's news from the business world and other money matters to watch out for Friday (last updated at 7:33 a.m. Eastern time): Gambling With Welfare Benefits: In the U.S., welfare payments are made electronically in the form of Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, which work similarly to debit...

Here's news from the business world and other money matters to watch out for Friday (last updated at 7:55 a.m. Eastern time): Postal Service Posts Loss: While many companies are reporting upbeat quarterly profits this earnings season, the United States Postal Service isn't one of them. The...

It finally happened: The nation's Social Security system will pay out more than it takes in this year and next, as aging baby boomers enter retirement. On the plus side, health-care reform should keep Medicare solvent for an extra 12 years.

The $3.8 trillion spending plan combines overly rosy projections of rapidly rising tax revenues with skyrocketing outlays in defense, entitlements and other mandatory spending, creating structural deficits above $1 trillion for a long time. Ending Bush-era tax cuts on the rich won't change that reality.