A wealth of useful financial information for retirees is available on the Internet, from retirement planning to tax information.
To sort through that vast variety of information, the following list of
Web sites may be particularly useful for retirees.
American Stroke Association
Every 45 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. About 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year. Stroke is our nation's No. 3 killer and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. But we're fighting back. This site provides information for both the professional and the layperson about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of stroke.
Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov):
One of the newest features on this site is a series of retirement
calculators that allow workers to estimate their Social Security
benefits at age 62, at full retirement and at age 70.
The site also, provides useful information on Social Security,
disability and survivor benefits; tax changes that affect Social
Security beneficiaries; and Medicare, including how to apply, for a
replacement Medicare card.
And you can subscribe to an e-mail newsletter that updates you on
changes affecting Social Security beneficiaries. Also check out the links to
other government agencies and related sites.
Administration on Aging (www.aoa.dhhs.gov): This federal government site provides information designed for older Americans and their families, including topics such as long term care, elder abuse and health care. The site is crammed with links to other sites.
ElderNet (www.eldernet.com): This site is a senior's guide to health, housing, legal, financial, retirement, lifestyles, news and entertainment.
Health Care Financing Administration (http://cms.hhs.gov/default.asp?fromhcfadotgov=true): HCFA is the federal agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid. Here you can get a good overview of the health care options under the Medicare Plus Choice program, the basics about Medicare and Medicaid, information on choosing a Medigap supplemental insurance policy and choosing a nursing home.
Especially useful is the Medicare Intermediary-Carrier Directory, which shows state-by-state the various carriers contracted by HCFA to administer Part A of Medicare, Part B, home health care, durable medical equipment and so on.
The information includes address, phone number and Web addresses for the intermediary.
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Smart Money (www.smartmoney.com): This site has several excellent sections. Particularly noteworthy for
retirees are sections covering every type of individual retirement account; 401(k) strategies, asset allocation worksheets, and best funds; and retirement strategies including a calculator to help you determine how much money you need for retirement and distribution issues.
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Roth IRA (www.rothira.com): A site devoted to technical and planning information on Roth IRAs.
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Internal Revenue Service (www.irs.ustreas.gov): This site includes current and past tax
forms, publications and tax information for individuals and businesses. A newsstand updates taxpayers on the latest at the IRS that might affect them.
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Tax Prophet (www.taxprophet.com): This site covers what's new in the tax world, provides tax classes, a frequently asked questions section (FAQ), and of special interest to
retirees, a section on common tax and trust scams. It also provides links to many other Web sites, not
all tax related .
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American Bar Association (www.abanet.org/tax/sites.html): The ABA's tax site links to federal and state tax court cases, the federal tax code and regulations, every state's department of revenue and numerous other tax-related Web sites.
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AARP (www.aarp.org): You can subscribe to an e-mail newsletter with stories that affect you, and the site includes a wealth of information on issues that affect
retirees such as computers, finances, technology and health.
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WidowNet (http://fortnet.org/WidowNet): This site provides information and self-help resources for widows and widowers. Financial information includes death benefits, financial rules for widows, being an executor, funerals, telemarketing fraud and stretching your dollar.
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Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org): Besides information on the health aspects of Alzheimer's disease, the site provides information about how to get financial assistance or benefits for someone suffering from Alzheimer's.
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College for Financial Planning (www.fp.edu):
The site provides a variety of
information for retirees, including
past articles by The Associated
Press on such topics as estate
planning, retirement and insurance
(Click on News/Consumer
Information).
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A website for
General Motors retirees to use for
communication with each other.
www.overthehillcarpeople.com
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