Social Security retirement benefits aren't automatic. You can apply up to four months before you want them to start. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising ...

There are several important decisions to make about your Social Security benefits. You decide how many years you work and which jobs you work at. You also choose when you sign up. All these choices ...

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 ...

A number of Social Security changes happening in 2026 will have a tangible impact on retirees — these are the five biggest ...

Social Security's work rules are very different for some retirees than others. Specifically: If you have not yet reached FRA, ...

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 ...

The 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 2.8%. This is the increase all Social Security beneficiaries, ...

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

How much Social Security income spouses receive depends on their claim age and the primary insurance amount (PIA) of their ...

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 ...