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[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. If you think of your Medicare Part B payment, which is deducted from

your Social Security, as income you don't receive, then by that logic all money withheld is money you don't receive and shouldn't be taxable. The Medicare Part B payment is withheld more or less as a convenience to you, just as federal and state income tax is usually withheld from your paycheck. It doesn't come to you, but it's still part of your taxable income.

I have investment income. Most of that does not pass through my hands but I still pay taxes on it.

The very small increase in your taxes isn't a penalty. It's the bracket you fall into, compounded by your relatively high income. I hope you appreciate how fortunate you are to get your husband's full pension, that it didn't go away or get reduced a lot when he died, which happens to many widows.

Is SS supposed to notify us of whatever change we're getting in our SS? I certainly haven't gotten anything from them. My SS isn't all that much, and I'm not certain what my Part B amount will be next year. Currently I pay $104.90, I think. I'm sure whatever small increase I'm getting in SS will be offset by the increased Part B, as is happening with you. Right now at age 68 I'm collecting my divorced spouse amount, and when I turn 70 I'll switch over to my own SS, which will be a few hundred more dollars per month. I'm grateful I can postpone my own SS to that point.