The President's proposal would reduce the debt borrowed from the public, and deposit assets of an equal amount in the Social Security trust fund.

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For Chad Brown, they equal six months in a New York City apartment, plus a security deposit with a little left over for utilities.

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Be aware that taking money out of a retirement account or selling securities at a sizable taxable gain rather than pulling cash from a certificate of deposit, money-market fund, savings or checking account could result in higher taxes on Social Security benefits if it bumps income above a certain threshold.

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