With the SSA cutting in-person visits, going online is essential. Our guide walks you through setting up your account, using login.gov, and managing your benefits.

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 ...

The last Social Security benefit of 2025 will be dispersed this week, and January's SSI check comes next week. Learn how the ...

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 ...

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

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.

The Social Security Administration assigns you a full retirement age (FRA) based on your birth year. It's 67 for most workers ...

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 ...