Search Content
History of Social Security Aug. 02, 2023
A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about the history of the Social Security number. I was surprised b... Read More
Yes, Rich People Should Get Social Security Jul. 26, 2023
I get lots of emails from readers expressing sentiments similar to what these guys recently sent me:... Read More
Benefits for Spouses Jul. 19, 2023
I think I get more questions about benefits for spouses than I do about any other kind of Social Sec... Read More
Ungrateful Greedy Geezers Jul. 12, 2023
Sometimes people bug me. Today I'm going to share some recent email exchanges I had with two people ... Read More
Customers Give SSA a Thumbs Up Jul. 05, 2023
Q: In a recent column, you highlighted some harsh words from a guy who was critical of the governmen... Read More
Wanted: A President Who Will Embrace the Spending Challenge Jun. 29, 2023
Election season is getting into gear, and that means politicians of all stripes making promises abou... Read More
Maybe Social Security Is Just Another Tax We Pay Jun. 28, 2023
I've received a lot of emails recently from readers trying to calculate how much they paid in Social... Read More
Decoding Social Security 'Claim' Numbers Jun. 21, 2023
Q: I am a 78-year-old recent widow. I got my own Social Security number when I was about 20. But sin... Read More
The Miserly Social Security Death Benefit Jun. 14, 2023
About a month ago, I wrote a column explaining what family members need to do when a loved one who w... Read More
My 'Ivory Tower' Is in the Basement of a Suburban Split-Level Jun. 07, 2023
I got an interesting email (actually, it was more like a rant) from a guy who was upset about an enc... Read More
Why Social Interaction Is Essential Jun. 03, 2023
For years, researchers have known that everyone benefits from socialization—regardless of age ... Read More
What a Divorced Woman Needs to Know About Social Security May. 31, 2023
My wife and I are celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary this week. (Although at our age, "celebra... Read More
I'm Dead. Now What? May. 24, 2023
Gosh, I hate getting old! Even though my wife and I are relatively fit, when you're in your late 70s... Read More
Social Security for Younger Retirees May. 17, 2023
Conventional wisdom has it that to get the most out of your Social Security, you should wait as long... Read More
Why the Debt Ceiling Continues to Matter May. 11, 2023
The debt-ceiling standoff has people concerned about what will happen if the U.S. defaults on its de... Read More
Your Social Security Payments Outside the US May. 10, 2023
As I write this, my wife and I are about to leave on a one-month trip to England. This has been one ... Read More
Social Security Benefits Rounded Down May. 03, 2023
Q: I've heard that Social Security is cheating me and millions of other Americans out of Social Secu... Read More
Little Green Martians and Social Security Apr. 26, 2023
I was looking through some old columns of mine and I found one from about 15 years ago with an intri... Read More
The SSN: A History Lesson Apr. 19, 2023
Regular readers of my column know that I try to avoid the use of Social Security jargon, abbreviatio... Read More
Common Social Security Questions Apr. 12, 2023
Well, it's been a strange week. My inbox is normally crammed with emails from readers. But this week... Read More
