Benefits & Support
Benefit cliffs, the true cost of a health plan, and repayment arithmetic — how the numbers work, so you can see what is coming.
The benefit cliff: when a raise can leave you worse off
2026-08-26 · 4 min read
Some programs taper as income rises. Others stop dead at a line. Here is the arithmetic of the second kind, worked all the way through.
The premium is not the price of a health plan
2026-08-26 · 3 min read
Premium, subsidy and out-of-pocket exposure are three numbers. Change how much care a year needs and the cheapest plan can flip.
The lowest student loan payment is not the cheapest
2026-08-26 · 3 min read
Monthly payment and total paid are two different questions. Lowering the first almost always raises the second.
Benefits do not add up the way you expect
2026-08-26 · 3 min read
One income, several programs, and none of them count it the same way. How to work out your own picture instead of assuming it.