Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Your age at sign up will dictate the size of your Social Security benefit. Spouses can coordinate their claiming strategies to ...

Mastering these basics could be just the confidence-booster you need before you apply.

When you apply for Social Security benefits, knowing how to track your application status is crucial. The most convenient way to do this is through the online platform 'my Social Security.' This free, ...

Applying for retirement benefits is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make, impacting your monthly income for decades. This quick, 10-question True or False quiz will test your ...

If you're retired or nearing retirement, you probably know some people claiming Social Security benefits, and you might also have a sense of how the program works. You pay into it your entire career, ...

Waiting a year to sign up for Social Security will increase your monthly benefit substantially. The size of the monthly increase depends on your age at the time and your earnings history. Those with ...

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 ...

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 ...