I’ve always prided myself on being able to explain the rationale behind various Social Security rules and regulations. Many times, readers will send me emails in which they express utter befuddlement at a law or regulation that affects their eligibility for Social Security. It’s usually a situation that results in reduced benefits for them. And of course, this irks them to no end. They figure the government is just out to shortchange them. But once I explain why the rule exists, they will almost always accept the fact (sometimes grudgingly) that the law makes sense.
My interest in these issues came about early in my career with the Social Security Administration. I would overhear clients complaining to a fellow SSA agent about some regulation that they didn’t like. And the agent frequently would respond by saying, “Well, it’s the law!” That unhelpful comeback did nothing to assuage the anger felt by the customer. So I made it my mission to understand some of the more confusing laws and why they were enacted. I never wanted to give the totally unsatisfactory “it’s the law” response.
