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 ...

Applying early will shrink your checks by up to 30%, depending on how soon you do it. That can cost you tens of thousands of ...

Federal employees older than 70 may be leaving thousands on the table. Find out if you or your spouse are missing Social ...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) handles applications for Social Security benefits, including retirement, disability, survivor, and more. You can apply for any kind of Social Security benefit ...

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, ...

The earliest you can file for spousal benefits is at age 62. You could qualify for benefits equal to 50% of your spouse's amount. If you're divorced, you may still qualify for benefits based on an ...

The earlier you claim Social Security, the smaller your monthly benefits will be. Delaying the point at which you file for benefits can grow your checks by anywhere from 5% to 8% per year. In deciding ...

Once you have completed the process of applying for your Social Security benefits, it is natural to wonder when those eagerly awaited payments will begin to arrive. The time that elapses from the ...

Clients frequently ask me about the best time to start taking Social Security benefits, with the hope that there's a golden rule or simple answer. As with so many areas of financial planning, we need ...

As Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano tells it, callers only had to wait an average of eight minutes to speak to an agent on the phone in July.