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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
When and How To File for Social Security Benefits Sep. 04, 2024
There is probably nothing I am asked more often than some version of this question: "When should I f... Read More
'I'll Tell You What's Wrong With Social Security!' Aug. 28, 2024
Every single day, more than a few of the emails I get from readers start out with this (or a similar... Read More
Myths About Benefits for Spouses Aug. 21, 2024
As I've pointed out over and over again in this column, there are thousands of myths about Social Se... Read More
No Death Benefit for Widow of Husband Who Was Having an Affair Aug. 14, 2024
Q: My husband of 49 years died a few months ago. I filed for widow's benefits and started receiving ... Read More
Should a Housewife Get Paid for Social Security Purposes? Aug. 07, 2024
People frequently write to me with an idea to change Social Security law in some way that they think... Read More
Social Security Is Complicated Because Life Is Complicated Jul. 31, 2024
People are always telling me that Social Security rules are so complicated. Actually, most of the ba... Read More
Social Security Rules Rarely Change Jul. 24, 2024
I feel guilty when I repeat information in a column. But sometimes a message I delivered in an old c... Read More
Senior Citizens Who Become Disabled Jul. 17, 2024
Disability benefits for senior citizens: It's a topic I've written about before. But because older f... Read More
Don't Take Financial Advice From a Guy in a Kayak Jul. 10, 2024
I've discussed this issue before in this column. I am a Social Security expert. I know all about the... Read More
Will Extra Earnings Increase a Social Security Check? Maybe. Jul. 03, 2024
When I talk to various groups and organizations about Social Security, my PowerPoint presentation in... Read More
There Are No Social Security Marriage Penalties Jun. 26, 2024
I frequently get questions from soon-to-be retirees who have heard about a "family maximum" that app... Read More
