Applying for Social Security is easier when you're prepared. Use our comprehensive checklist to gather all the necessary ...

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 ...

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 ...

Just got married or changed your name? Updating it with the Social Security Administration is crucial. Follow our simple ...

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 ...

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

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 ...

Your age at sign up will dictate the size of your Social Security benefit. Spouses can coordinate their claiming strategies to maximize their household benefits. Having the necessary documents at hand ...