How Do I Check My Social Security Statement? Login Links and Steps for My Social Security Account Your Social Security statement is a key document that shows your earnings history, your estimated future Social Security benefits, and other important information about your Social Security record. Accessing it online is fast, secure, and free — but you need a my Social Security account to do it. 1. What Is a Social Security Statement? A Social Security statement is a personalized...

How Do Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) Work? What Is Next Year’s COLA? Everyone notices how prices for groceries, rent, gas, and other essentials seem to climb over time. When prices go up, fixed incomes — like pensions, government benefits, and some retirement plans — lose real value unless they are adjusted. That’s where cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, come in. COLAs are designed to help incomes keep pace with inflation so that people on fixed incomes...

What Happens If I Delay Social Security? Understanding Delayed Retirement Credits and How Much Your Benefits Grow For many people approaching retirement, deciding when to claim Social Security is one of the biggest financial choices they’ll make. Although you can claim benefits as early as age 62, the timing of your claim can dramatically affect how much you receive each month for the rest of your life. One of the most powerful levers you control is the delayed retirement credit, a...

Are Social Security Benefits Guaranteed? Political Debates and Future Solvency Social Security stands as one of the most important — and most debated — social insurance programs in American history. Since its creation in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Social Security has provided retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to tens of millions of Americans. For many, Social Security represents not just a source of income in retirement, but a near-sacred promise that...

How Much Can I Earn on Social Security? Earnings Limits, Benefit Reductions & the Retirement Earnings Test For many Americans, Social Security benefits are a key part of retirement planning. But if you plan to work while collecting Social Security retirement benefits, it’s crucial to understand how your earnings can affect those benefits. This article breaks down: How earnings affect your Social Security income The specific limits you need to know How benefit...

When Is the Best Age to Take Social Security? 62 vs. Full Retirement Age vs. 70 Deciding when to start Social Security is one of the most important financial choices you’ll make in retirement. The timing affects not only your monthly check but also your lifetime income, your spouse’s potential benefits, and your long-term financial stability. The right answer isn’t the same for everyone. But you can make a smart, confident choice once you understand how the system works...

Can You Collect Social Security From Two Sources? Understanding Dual Entitlement, Spousal Benefits, and the Old “Restricted Application” Strategy Retirement planning becomes more complicated when Social Security enters the picture, especially for married couples or people who qualify for more than one type of benefit. A common question is: “Can I collect Social Security from two sources—like my own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit?” The short answer:...

What Is SSI and How Is It Different From SSDI? When people talk about disability benefits in the United States, two acronyms come up over and over: SSI and SSDI. They sound similar, and both programs involve cash benefits for people who meet certain disability or income criteria. But after that, the overlap ends. These programs are fundamentally different—different rules, different eligibility paths, different funding sources, and different long-term implications. If you’ve been...

What Is Social Security Disability (SSDI) and How Do I Qualify? Application Steps, Medical Requirements, and Approval Timelines Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal benefits program designed to support people who can no longer work due to a severe, long-term medical condition. Even though it’s widely used, many applicants find the rules confusing, the paperwork heavy, and the wait time frustrating. If you understand what SSDI is, who qualifies, and how the...

How Do I Replace My Social Security Card? Losing your Social Security card can feel stressful, but replacing it is usually straightforward. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has made the process more user-friendly over the years, and most people can apply for a replacement online in just a few minutes. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you understand your options, the documents you’ll need, and what to expect. Why You Might Need a Replacement Card In most situations, you...

Is Social Security Taxable? A Full Guide to When and How Your Benefits Are Taxed Many Americans count on Social Security as a core part of retirement income, but a frustrating surprise hits some retirees every year: Social Security benefits can be taxable. Whether you owe taxes depends on your total income—not just your Social Security checks. If you want a straightforward explanation of when Social Security is taxable, how much may be taxed, and how to estimate your own liability,...

Can I work while collecting Social Security? — Income limits and how earnings affect your benefits Short answer: yes — you can work and collect Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. But if you claim benefits before your full retirement age (FRA) and your earnings are above certain limits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may withhold some of your monthly checks until you reach FRA. Those withheld dollars aren’t lost forever — SSA recalculates...

  What is Social Security — and why some people fear it might “run out” Social Security in the United States is a social-insurance program created to provide financial support to retirees, disabled people, and survivors of deceased workers. It’s funded primarily by payroll taxes: a portion taken from workers’ paychecks (and matched by employers) under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Because future costs (benefits paid) are uncertain...

What Happens to Social Security When You Die? Survivor Benefits, Death Benefits, and Support for Widows and Widowers Social Security is best known for providing retirement income, but its role doesn’t end when a beneficiary passes away. The system also includes a structured set of protections for family members—protections many people don’t fully understand until they need them. When someone dies, their Social Security payments stop immediately, but certain relatives may...

How Spousal Benefits Work: A Practical Guide Social Security can feel complicated, but spousal benefits are actually straightforward once you understand the rules. They were designed to protect people who spent much of their lives out of the workforce—raising children, managing a household, or supporting a partner’s career—but they also help couples maximize retirement income overall. Here’s a simple guide to how they work and what you can expect. What Are Spousal...