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Why Some People Don't Pay Into Social Security Jan. 29, 2025
In some columns I wrote earlier this month about the repeal of laws that affect people who spent a l... Read More
Answering Questions From Widows Jan. 22, 2025
I hope there is nothing in the air that is causing old goats like me to keel over. For some reason, ... Read More
Less for Others but More for Me Jan. 15, 2025
I had originally planned to use this space to write a follow-up column to one I wrote several weeks ... Read More
Turning Full Retirement Age in 2025? Consider Filing for Benefits This Month Jan. 08, 2025
I write a column like this one every January. But I don't mind plagiarizing myself, because it conta... Read More
Social Security Update for 2025 Jan. 01, 2025
It has been my custom for most of the past 27 years to write a year-end column that summarizes the S... Read More
The History of the Social Security Number Dec. 18, 2024
I have a granddaughter who is a junior in high school. Recently, she needed to write a report for he... Read More
6 Questions and 6 Answers Dec. 11, 2024
My columns are usually focused on one theme or topic. But every once in a while, I like to just dig ... Read More
You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto! Dec. 04, 2024
Every once in a while, I will use a word or phrase — with the most innocent of intentions R... Read More
Social Security: A Global View Nov. 27, 2024
I have always been amazed by the number of people who think Social Security is unique to the United ... Read More
Give Thanks for Social Security Nov. 20, 2024
I'm dusting off an old Thanksgiving-themed column I ran many years ago. I thought that now would be ... Read More
How Other Government Benefits Interact With Social Security Nov. 13, 2024
I have been saving up some emails from readers who want to know how other government benefits might ... Read More
Seeing It in Black and White Nov. 06, 2024
Readers are always asking me to explain various Social Security rules and regulations. But sometimes... Read More
Politics, Elections and Social Security Oct. 30, 2024
Because the presidential and congressional elections are on everyone's mind, more than a few people ... Read More
Here Are Some Social Security Rules I Can't Explain Oct. 23, 2024
I've always prided myself on being able to explain the rationale behind various Social Security rule... Read More
Social Security COLA for 2025 Oct. 16, 2024
In mid-October every year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its much-anticipated report on ch... Read More
A Widow Doesn't Have To 'Live in Sin' To Get Social Security Oct. 09, 2024
Q: My mother told me she remembers a time when women had to "live in sin" (those are her words) to a... Read More
How Your Retirement Benefit Is Figured Oct. 02, 2024
I've learned over the years that when it comes to Social Security retirement benefit calculations, t... Read More
Rumors About Undocumented Immigrants and Social Security Are Untrue Sep. 25, 2024
For years, I've been hearing silly rumors about undocumented immigrants and Social Security. And tho... Read More
More About the Death of a Spouse Sep. 18, 2024
Sometimes I'll include something in a column about a broader topic that I think is just a small, alm... Read More
Foreign Pensions and Social Security Sep. 11, 2024
I've commented many times before that Social Security is a global phenomenon. Almost every country o... Read More
