Applying for Social Security is easier when you're prepared. Use our comprehensive checklist to gather all the necessary ...

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 ...

For those approaching retirement, there are several steps to take before applying for Social Security benefits. Pre-retirees should be familiar with the benefit options available to them and ...

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

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 ...

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 ...

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. Dear Liz: I’m 59. In 8 years, I will qualify for an average Social Security income. I have no retirement saved and ...

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 ...

This week, some Social Security beneficiaries will receive their final payments of 2025. Here's a peak into the 2026 changes and schedules.

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 ...