diff --git a/changelog.d/fix-soi-dtype-and-se-pension.fixed.md b/changelog.d/fix-soi-dtype-and-se-pension.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..feb96d4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/fix-soi-dtype-and-se-pension.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix SOI uprating dtype error on newer pandas and add defensive non-negativity clip for retirement/SS variables in splice step.
diff --git a/policyengine_us_data/utils/soi.py b/policyengine_us_data/utils/soi.py
index b9755c30..997a8078 100644
--- a/policyengine_us_data/utils/soi.py
+++ b/policyengine_us_data/utils/soi.py
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ def get_soi(year: int) -> pd.DataFrame:
     }
     soi = pd.read_csv(CALIBRATION_FOLDER / "soi_targets.csv")
     soi = soi[soi.Year == soi.Year.max()]
+    soi["Value"] = soi["Value"].astype(float)
 
     uprating_factors = {}
     for variable in uprating_map: