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 ...

Social Security payments for the month of January follow a normal schedule. January checks will reflect a 2.8% cost-of-living ...

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 benefits provide important economic support for older people who cannot work. The White House recently halted changes to ...

The overall award rate for Social Security disability benefits was at a near-record low of 31 percent in 2023.

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 ...

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 ...

Applying for Social Security by phone can involve long wait times. If your account is flagged as a possible fraud risk, you may not be able to complete your application over the phone. Having all the ...