| What to Know for Wednesday, March 11, 2026: | 1: Former DOGE worker allegedly took Social Security data of 500 million Americans |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| Your personal data may be at risk: A former DOGE engineer allegedly took two highly restricted Social Security databases on a thumb drive containing records for over 500 million living and dead Americans — including Social Security numbers, birth dates, citizenship, race, ethnicity, and parents' names. Planned to share with private employer: The engineer allegedly told colleagues he wanted to "sanitize" the data and upload it to his new company's systems after leaving government work, and claimed he expected a presidential pardon if his actions were illegal — the Social Security Inspector General is now investigating. Part of broader DOGE data breach concerns: This follows separate complaints that DOGE members improperly uploaded Social Security data to digital clouds and shared data through unapproved third-party services — the worst-case scenario is "there could be one or a million copies of it, and we will never know now," according to the former chief data officer.
| ➜ Read the full story from the Washington Post here. | | 2: Mark your calendar: Two March dates offer clues about your 2027 Social Security COLA | March 11th and 18th are key dates: On March 11th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases February's Consumer Price Index numbers showing inflation trends — on March 18th, the Federal Reserve meets to decide interest rates, signaling whether they believe inflation is rising or under control. Early insight into 2027 COLA: While the official 2027 COLA won't be announced until October (calculated using third-quarter 2026 CPI-W data), these March dates give you early clues about which way the economy and inflation are trending for next year's adjustment. Why inflation data matters: Your COLA is directly based on inflation — when the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) shows year-over-year cost increases, beneficiaries receive a check increase equal to that percentage jump, making inflation tracking critical for projecting future benefits.
| | ➜ Read the full story from the U.S. Sun here. | | | 3: Married couples face $44,000 tax trap that makes 85% of Social Security taxable |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| The outdated threshold hits hard: Once your combined income (AGI + nontaxable interest + half your Social Security) exceeds $44,000 for married couples filing jointly, up to 85% of your Social Security becomes taxable — this threshold hasn't been adjusted since 1983, so inflation has eroded protection that once helped middle-income retirees. Example: $38,400 in benefits triggers the trap: A couple each collecting Social Security ($1,800 and $1,400 monthly = $38,400 annually) plus modest $20,000 retirement withdrawals lands well above the $44,000 threshold — most of their Social Security check becomes federally taxable, creating an unexpected tax bill of thousands per year. The solution: Roth conversions and strategic timing: Convert traditional IRA balances to Roth accounts before both spouses claim Social Security since Roth distributions don't count in the combined income formula — and never claim both benefits simultaneously without modeling the tax impact first, as the gap between planned and unplanned approaches can cost several thousand dollars annually.
| ➜ Read the full story from 24/7 Wall Street here. | | | Here's What You Missed on YouTube: | Check out our new YouTube videos for Wednesday, March 11th. | Social Security and Taxes: Do THIS Before April 15th or You'll Owe the IRS |  | Social Security and Taxes: Do THIS Before April 15 or You'll Owe the IRS |
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| 7 Social Security Mistakes That Could Cost You $149,000 |  | 7 Social Security Mistakes That Could Cost You $149,000 |
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| | | The Daily 3 Deal List—Week of March 9th | | This newsletter is for information only. Always confirm your options directly with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or a qualified advisor before making big decisions about your benefits. | *View our Advertising Disclosure |
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