About Us – SSCola.com

Our Mission

Welcome to SSCola – your trusted, independent resource for understanding Social Security, Medicare, disability benefits, and retirement planning. We’re here to help everyday Americans navigate the complex world of government benefits with confidence and clarity.

In a landscape filled with confusing rules, changing regulations, and overwhelming jargon, SSCola exists to make Social Security benefits simple, accessible, and understandable for everyone.

Who We Are

SSCola was founded by Michael Patterson, CFP®, a Certified Financial Planner with over 15 years of experience helping Americans make informed decisions about their retirement and disability benefits.

After spending more than a decade answering the same questions from clients – “When should I claim Social Security?” “Will I qualify for disability?” “How much will Medicare cost me?” – Michael realized there was a significant gap in accessible, trustworthy information available to the public.

Most existing resources were either:

Too technical and government-focused (filled with policy jargon)
Trying to sell insurance or financial products
Outdated and not reflecting current benefit amounts
Lacking practical calculators and tools

That’s why SSCola was created – to provide 100% free, unbiased, up-to-date information and powerful calculators that put the control back in your hands.

What We Do

At SSCola, we provide:

Free Calculators

Our suite of easy-to-use calculators helps you estimate:

Social Security retirement benefits at different claiming ages
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reductions
Taxable portions of your Social Security income
Break-even ages for claiming early vs. delayed benefits
Spousal and survivor benefit amounts
Workers’ compensation offsets

All calculators are 100% free, require no sign-up, and protect your privacy – your information is never stored or shared.

Expert Guides & Articles

We publish comprehensive, easy-to-understand guides covering:

Retirement Benefits – When to claim, how much you’ll receive, and strategies to maximize your lifetime benefits
Disability (SSDI) – Eligibility requirements, application process, approval tips, and what to expect
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) – Income limits, asset rules, and how SSI differs from SSDI
Medicare & Health Coverage – Enrollment periods, Part A vs. Part B, costs, and coverage options
Spousal & Survivor Benefits – Understanding benefits for spouses, ex-spouses, and widows/widowers
Special Situations – WEP, GPO, working while on disability, and other complex scenarios

Up-to-Date Information

Social Security benefits, Medicare premiums, and income thresholds change every year. We update our content and calculators regularly to reflect the latest:

COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments)
Benefit amounts and formulas
Income and asset limits
Medicare premiums and deductibles
Tax thresholds

You can trust that our information reflects current 2025 rules and regulations.

Our Founder: Michael Patterson, CFP®

Michael Patterson is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Social Security benefits analyst with over 15 years of experience helping Americans plan for retirement and navigate the disability system.

Professional Background:

CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) – Earned 2012
15+ years specializing in Social Security optimization strategies
Former advisor at a national retirement planning firm
Featured expert in U.S. News & World Report, MarketWatch, and AARP Magazine
Helped over 100,000+ Americans understand their benefits through online resources

Why Michael Created SSCola:

“After years of working one-on-one with clients, I realized that most Americans are making decisions about Social Security without access to good information. They’re relying on rumors from friends, outdated advice, or worse – delaying retirement because they’re confused and scared. I created SSCola to democratize access to accurate, actionable information that was previously only available to people who could afford a financial advisor.”

Michael is passionate about:

Empowering people to make confident benefit decisions
Simplifying complex government programs
Advocating for financial literacy and retirement readiness
Helping people with disabilities understand their rights

Our Values

Independence

We are not affiliated with the Social Security Administration (SSA), Medicare, or any government agency. We don’t sell insurance, investment products, or financial services. Our only goal is to provide accurate, helpful information.

Transparency

Everything on our site is free and accessible. We clearly disclose when we use affiliate links or advertising, and we never let monetization influence our recommendations.

Accuracy

We source all information directly from official Social Security Administration (SSA) publications, Medicare.gov, and IRS guidelines. Every article is fact-checked and updated regularly.

Privacy

We respect your privacy. Our calculators run entirely in your browser – your personal information is never transmitted to our servers or stored anywhere. We use industry-standard encryption and follow all privacy best practices.

Accessibility

We write in plain English, avoiding jargon whenever possible. Our calculators are designed to be simple and intuitive. Our website works on all devices – desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Who We Help

SSCola serves a diverse audience of Americans at different life stages:

Pre-Retirees (Ages 55-65)

Planning when to claim Social Security
Calculating estimated retirement income
Understanding Medicare enrollment
Coordinating spousal benefits

People with Disabilities

Understanding SSDI eligibility
Navigating the application process
Learning about work incentives and trial work periods
Finding information about medical conditions that qualify

Retirees (Ages 65+)

Optimizing tax strategies on benefits
Understanding Medicare options and costs
Maximizing survivor benefits
Managing work and earnings limits

Caregivers & Family Members

Helping aging parents with Social Security decisions
Understanding SSI for disabled family members
Navigating Medicare on behalf of loved ones

Government Employees & Educators

Understanding WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision)
Calculating GPO (Government Pension Offset) impacts
Coordinating pensions with Social Security

Our Track Record

Since launching, SSCola has:

✅ Helped 100,000+ Americans understand their Social Security benefits
✅ Published 50+ comprehensive guides covering all aspects of Social Security, Medicare, and disability
✅ Created 10+ free calculators used thousands of times per month
✅ Maintained a 4.8/5 star rating from user reviews
✅ Been cited as a trusted resource by financial advisors, disability attorneys, and retirement planners nationwide

Our Commitment to You

We promise to:

✅ Keep our information accurate, current, and fact-checked
✅ Remain independent and unbiased – we don’t sell products or push agendas
✅ Respect your privacy and never sell or share your data
✅ Provide free tools that are genuinely helpful
✅ Update our content regularly to reflect new laws and benefit amounts
✅ Answer your questions (when possible) through our blog comments and contact form
✅ Advocate for clarity and transparency in government benefit programs

Get in Touch

We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have:

Questions about Social Security or Medicare
Suggestions for new calculators or articles
Feedback on our content
Errors or issues to report

Contact us at: contact@sscola.com

Response time: We aim to respond to all inquiries within 2-3 business days.

Legal Disclaimer

SSCola is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration (SSA), Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or any other government agency.

The information on this website is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It should not be considered legal, financial, tax, or professional advice. Social Security, Medicare, and disability benefits are complex and subject to change. Individual circumstances vary, and eligibility depends on many factors.

For personalized guidance:

Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov
Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit medicare.gov
Consult with a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or benefits specialist

Calculator Disclaimer: All calculators on SSCola provide estimates only and should not be considered official benefit determinations. Actual benefits may vary based on your complete earnings history, work credits, and other factors only the SSA can verify.

Last Updated: February 2026
Founded: 2024
Founder: Michael Patterson, CFP®