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 ...

Dear Savvy Senior: What do I need to do to get disability benefits from Social Security? I’m 60 years old and have a medical condition that doesn’t allow me to work anymore. But I’ve read that getting ...

Costly claiming errors could quietly shrink your lifetime benefits—here’s what to avoid this year.

Dear Rusty: I just turned 65 years old in February 2025. I need to sign up for Social Security but don’t even know where to start. Signed: Seeking Assistance Dear Seeking: It is fairly easy to sign up ...

There are three boxes you need to check before you apply. And you'll have to put in some real work to pull this off.

Dear Liz: I’m 59. In 8 years, I will qualify for an average Social Security income. I have no retirement saved and am not a homeowner but I have been blessed with a modest inheritance. What financial ...

Waiting until age 70 to collect Social Security benefits provides the highest possible monthly payments as this is when delayed retirement credits stop accumulating. But does this strategy suit ...

It's a rocky time for the Social Security Administration. Here's what you should know about what's going on and how to make smart choices. Blake has over a decade of experience writing for the web, ...

Beverly is a writer, editor, and paralegal specializing in personal finance and tax law. She covers personal financial and legal topics, as well as tax breaks, tax preparation software, and tax law ...

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 ...