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social_security_5

Introduction The Trustees of the Social Security system have just issued the 2008 projections for the system over the next 75 years.  The report contains two surprises.  First, the 75-year deficit dropped to 1.70 percent of taxable payrolls from the roughly 2 percent it has been for the last 14 years.  The decline was driven…

Social Security Card: Senior woman holding card in hand on white background

Introduction Most married men claim Social Security benefits at age 62 or 63, well short of the age that maximizes the expected present value of the average household’s benefits.  That many married men “leave money on the table” is surprising.  It is also problematic.  It results in much lower benefits for surviving spouses and t…