OlDawg

Question: If already receiving, how close was your monthly benefit compared to the estimate provided by SSA? (If you don’t mind me asking a general question. If you want to answer, you can PM. If not, I understand.)

I worry about those on SS already who aren’t that tech savvy or aware. If someone gets ahold of all their info, emails them something created with AI that looks very authentic because it has all their data correct, and knows things only they think they should know, it could be very bad. Heck. They got me even though I was always careful. Like this, someone else poached the goat. Beginning to wonder if this had any effect on Musk’s leaving when he did. He didn’t cut near as much as promised, and some of his people misused our data? Hmmm… I was for the cutting. But, this isn’t good.

They’re not Trump. They’re not Trump. They’re not Trump. They’re not Trump. Ad nauseum… Thought I’d save her the time. 😁

One can hope they tell the people as soon as possible where we can make decisions about what we want to do to protect ourselves. But, I just get this nasty feeling someone would prefer to save it for an ‘October Surprise.’

As bad as it sounds, my wife and I have discussed her situation, and are debating taking hers early. With her Parkinson’s Plus, she’s already on borrowed time. I was trying to wait until at least 65. 2 more years. Actually, 1 year & 11 months.

They got mine from DoD database. Another government foo foo. I don’t use a debit card other than as a Pulse card at my Credit Union’s machines when I need cash for gas. Too direct a link to your bank account for me—with no protections like a credit card. Even then, very rarely. I go in half the time. Also gives me a chance to visit.

I’m trying to hold off as long as possible. I have a Social Security account & set one up for my wife as well when they stopped mailing the yearly benefits papers. But honestly, I haven’t checked it in a very long time until today. I just know no one wants to have to deal with identity theft.

I guess the Epstein files are more important… Did anyone even read the article in the first post of this thread? It says the Administration admitted in January 2026 that THE ENTIRE SOCIAL SECURITY DATABASE was uploaded to an unsecured cloud storage, and the government has no clue exactly how to even find out if it’s been hacked, disseminated elsewhere, or how to get it back!!! Anyone who has ever been issued a SSN has personal data involved. Even mother’s maiden names, addresses, emails, bank routing numbers, phone numbers, DOB’s, town of birth, race, gender…EVERYTHING the government has collected about you from the IRS or anywhere else. The government has acknowledged the loss of the information. They’re just not sure if it’s been hacked yet, and they can’t seem to get it all back. This should scare everyone. But whatever. Back to Epstein. 🤷‍♂️

I guess I should add that I only use Apple Pay for incidentals now as well. Both of my Credit Unions, and the one bank recommend it for security since no one ever sees your card number. If they don’t take Apple Pay—which is rare nowadays—I use the virtual card Capital One lets you set up with their cashback card. Between that, setting the freeze, and checking my home title online through the county every 6 months, I feel better protected, and I’m not paying for a service like Lifelock or similar. Recently completed a TODD for our house while my wife is still considered ‘competent’. So, no one can do anything with the house title without us voiding it first anyway. I’d get an immediate notice from the county if someone tried. Identity theft was a booger.

Same. Except I use the Capital One (1.5% back) strictly for all regular recurring bills like utilities, insurance, prescriptions, etc. I use the one from the Credit Union for incidentals. I write one check a month still because I just can’t get myself to trust the City for the water bill, and they want direct bank access. Everything is paid off every month.

We are similar. But, my identity was stolen from a DoD breach. Since I don't take out loans, and I only keep 2 cards (I use them for autopayment of bills where I can dispute & get cash back) it took me until I received collection notices to know I'd been had. I checked my credit reports yearly, and receive immediate notices for every charge on my cards via Capital One & my Credit Union. It didn't matter. The DoD breach affected millions of veterans, and included all the identifiers--and more--than even in this misuse of data. I should have titled the thread differently I guess, because this is a much bigger disclosure than just your SSN. If you don't use credit regularly--or at all--so you think yourself safe, I'd actually say you're probably the most at risk because you wouldn't normally think it's a big deal and shouldn't involve you. I thought the same. A freeze can be lifted in a matter of hours. Not days. I actually tested it when I first set ours up. It was unfrozen in less than an hour online. It's one of the few proactive things you can do to help protect yourself, and it's free. Anyway, each to their own. I posted for information purposes only. The article is from Dow Jones, Inc. and Morningstar. Can't impeach the sources.

You should read the article. It addresses your second paragraph. As far as the delay on a loan, I’m sure a banker prefers impulse loans to someone having more time to think. Ha!

Grew up poor as the dirt on the farm I grew up on. My folks' most used answer was, "We'll see." Obviously, I grew up to learn that was a nice way of saying NO. I've shopped at Aldi for years, and use every coupon--digital or otherwise--I can find anywhere else. On the rare occasions we eat out, it's at a place where they've emailed us a deal, or they have some type discount advertised. I guess it's ingrained in me. Not a bad lesson to have been taught. Used to joke I was Dave Ramsey before he became famous. lol

Links to the Credit Agencies included below: What To Know About Credit Freezes Freezing your credit can help stop identity theft. When a credit freeze is in place, nobody can open a new credit account in your name. There’s no cost to place or lift a credit freeze, and it doesn’t affect your credit score. You don’t have to wait for your Social Security number or other information to be exposed in a data breach or misused by an identity thief to get a credit freeze. Anyone can do it, any time. [Hidden Content]

Not quite. Illegal immigrants have SOME due process rights before an Immigration Court judge. Immigration Court judges are part of the DOJ. Full due process rights that a citizen receives in the Judicial Branch are considered on an individual case basis, and depend on the specific circumstances.