About Tom Margenau

Tom Margenau

Tom Margenau

Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. For many years, he was the director of SSA's public information office at the agency’s headquarters in Baltimore, Md. In that post, he was the chief editor for more than 100 informational publications produced by SSA.

He also was SSA’s deputy press officer for several years, serving in that position as a chief spokesman for the Social Security Administration. Prior to that, he was a speechwriter for the Commissioner of Social Security. Before he moved to SSA's headquarters, he worked for 12 years in Social Security field offices around the country, where he processed Social Security claims while writing Social Security columns for local newspapers.

He has written the “Social Security and You ” column for national syndication since 1997. Margenau graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1971. He is married and has two grown children and five grandchildren.

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Raising the Cap on Taxable Income Has Drawbacks Mar 18, 2026

I have probably written 100 columns about possible Social Security reforms. Well here comes column number 101! What is prompting my discussion of the issue this time is that a certain reform proposal has been getting a lot of press lately. It is prob... Read More

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Simple and Smart Update Mar 11, 2026

Readers are always asking me if I could recommend a good book about Social Security. I always steer them to the best book out there. It's called "Social Security Simple and Smart — 10 easy-to-understand fact sheets that will answer all your que... Read More

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Retroactive Benefits Not a Big Deal Mar 04, 2026

I just don't get people's fascination with retroactive Social Security retirement benefits. I can understand that on the surface, the idea of getting a big retroactive check from the government might sound like a financial windfall. But when you thin... Read More

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Disability Claims Get Reviewed Feb 25, 2026

For a couple of different reasons, a claim for Social Security disability benefits may be reviewed. One is what the Social Security Administration calls a "quality assurance review." The other is what the agency calls a "continuing disability review.... Read More