Dear Iris,

My girlfriend and I are having a heated debate, and we're hoping you can settle it$.$ Is Social Security taxable? I say it's not taxable,

because it's your money that you've been paying in all the years you worked and now you're getting it back. She says it is taxable,

which is why you get a form SSA$-1099$ showing your benefits and they wouldn't bother sending you one if you didn't owe taxes on

that money.

Who is right? A dinner is riding on your response, Iris.

Sincerely,

Hungry and Hopeful