social security administration

A 20 percent increase in retirement applications last year was something of a surprise to the Social Security Administration.

Many older Americans needed to tap into their retirement benefits after losing their jobs during the recession.

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A person who can no longer work because of illness or disability is entitled to a monthly Social Security disability check.

But the recession has put an already strained system under even more duress. Nearly 1 million people are waiting for a decision, and many will wait two or more years.

By then, some will have lost their homes — or even died.

Taxes aren't really my thing, but I can't help passing along this anecdote about my mom:

My mom is 67 and ostensibly retired.  She taught elementary/middle school for several decades and specialized in teaching children with reading disabilities.  (She has a masters' degree in education.)  When she retired, she decided to supplement her income by teaching children with severe learning disabilities.  She took an intensive course in dyslexia and hung out out her shingle.