Q: It has always puzzled me why Social Security takes back a person's Social Security check for the month he or she dies. My aunt recently died. And as her executor, I was counting on using her last Social Security check to pay off some of her ...

Before I get to today's question, I must clarify some points about the Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, program.

Every single day, I get emails from people who confuse SSI with the Social Security program. SSI has absolutely nothing to do ...

Many people have asked me if I have written a book about Social Security. The answer is yes and no. The "yes" part of that answer alludes to the fact that I've had a Social Security book ready to go for many years now. The "no" part of the answer ...

Q: I am a married 64-year-old woman. I started getting my Social Security at age 62. I was told at the time that I was not eligible for any of my husband's Social Security. But we were just on a cruise and an older woman told me that she took ...

Here is an email from Phil: "I think the Social Security disability program is a complete rip off. I know lots of people getting disability checks who don't deserve them. It seems like anyone can get on disability. Simply get a doctor to sign ...

In last week's column, I presented a brief history of Social Security by highlighting the major changes to the program brought about by annual amendments to the original Social Security law. Sometimes it was a dramatic change, such as the addition...