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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
Biden's Bad Deal Jun. 01, 2023
When you negotiate from a position of weakness, you get a lousy deal. When it's the best you can do,... Read More
Our Fake Spending Debates May. 31, 2023
This week, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Joe Biden cut a deal to rais... 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
Step Back or I'll Kill This White Man! May. 26, 2023
I'm a 66-year-old white man, and I'm more or less retired. I do a little writing, and I do a local n... 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
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
More Entitlement Red Flags as Politicians Tout Inaction Apr. 06, 2023
Republicans and Democrats have been tripping over each other to tell voters how committed they are t... Read More
Social Security Rules for Federal Government Employees Apr. 05, 2023
I've commented before how surprised I am that a high percentage of emails I get come from the relati... Read More
Social Security Rumors Don't Pass the "Look, Sound and Quack Test!" Mar. 29, 2023
I'm sure you've heard that old saying that goes something like this: "If it looks like a duck, walks... Read More
Most People Can't Get the Maximum Benefit Mar. 22, 2023
If you read a recent USA Today article, you would have seen a story with this intriguing headline: "... Read More
Change Is Nothing New to Social Security Mar. 15, 2023
I continually remind my readers that they shouldn't worry too much when they read or hear reports of... Read More
