Social Security
2027 Social Security COLA: What the 3.6% Increase Means for You
Social Security and SSI payments rise 3.6% in 2027. Here is how the increase is figured, when it shows up in your payment and why your deposit may…
Social Security
How benefits work, when to claim and how to protect your payments.
12 guides
Social Security
How Medicare Premiums Are Deducted From Social Security
If you receive Social Security, your Medicare Part B premium is usually deducted from your monthly payment. Here is how the deduction works, what can…
Social Security
Social Security Impostor Scams: How to Spot Them
Scammers pretend to be from Social Security to steal money and personal information. Here are the warning signs, what the real agency will and will…
Social Security
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Who Qualifies and How It Differs
Supplemental Security Income is a monthly payment for people 65 and older, or blind or disabled, who have very limited income and savings. Here is…
Social Security
Is Social Security Income Taxable?
Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be subject to federal income tax, depending on your other income. Here is how the "combined income"…
Social Security
Setting Up a my Social Security Account: What to Expect
A free my Social Security account lets you see your earnings record and benefit estimates, get a benefit letter and manage payments online. Here is…
Social Security
Working While Collecting Social Security: The Earnings Test Explained
If you claim Social Security before full retirement age and keep working, some benefits may be held back. Here is how the earnings test works in 2026…
Social Security
Social Security Survivor Benefits for Widows and Widowers
When a husband or wife dies, the surviving spouse may receive up to 100% of the deceased's Social Security benefit. Here is how survivor benefits…
Social Security
How Social Security Benefits Are Calculated
Your Social Security benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for wage growth. Here is how the formula works, step by step, in…
Social Security
Full Retirement Age Explained
Your full retirement age is when you can receive 100% of your Social Security benefit. For anyone born in 1960 or later, it is 67. Here is why it…
Social Security
Social Security Spousal Benefits: How They Work
A husband or wife can receive up to half of a spouse's full Social Security benefit. Here is who qualifies, how claiming age affects the amount and…
Social Security
When to Claim Social Security: Comparing Ages 62, 67 and 70
You can start Social Security retirement benefits at any age from 62 to 70. Each choice changes your monthly check for life. Here is how to compare…