Choose your claiming age carefully and understand how this affects the size of your benefit. It's best to apply several months in advance of when you hope to claim. Gather your documents ahead of time ...

Katharine Paljug is a financial writer and editor with over a decade of industry experience. Her writing has covered nearly every aspect of the financial world, from investing in forex to paying for ...

Just got married or changed your name? Updating it with the Social Security Administration is crucial. Follow our simple ...

Katharine Paljug is a financial writer and editor with over a decade of industry experience. Her writing has covered nearly every aspect of the financial world, from investing in forex to paying for ...

Many people are mentally ready to start receiving Social Security checks long before they become eligible for them at 62. But wanting checks and actually applying for them are two separate things. If ...

You may think you've done all you can to maximize your Social Security benefits. You worked hard for decades. You increased your income over your career. Now you're staring at the application screen ...

Get the latest on Social Security benefits, COLA updates, and policy changes - what they mean for retirees, SSI recipients ...

Many Americans fear that Social Security is going to run out or not provide promised benefits. It's very unlikely that there will be a direct reduction in the amount of benefits provided to retirees.

When you sign up determines the size of the check you qualify for, along with your income history from your working years. You can apply as early as age 62, but that's considered claiming early, and ...

Errors in your earnings record could cause you to receive smaller checks than you deserve. Your claiming age has a significant effect on the size of your checks and your lifetime benefit. Having all ...

Your age at sign up will dictate the size of your Social Security benefit. Spouses can coordinate their claiming strategies to maximize their household benefits. Having the necessary documents at hand ...