There are three ways to apply for Social Security: Online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or in person. Applying online is the fastest and easiest method. Timing your benefits can significantly ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Work at least 35 years before signing up for Social Security to avoid zero-income years in your benefit calculation. Paying more in Social Security taxes today increases your future retirement benefit ...

Of the over 71 million Americans who receive regular Social Security payments, some may have begun receiving smaller checks. However, the payments should arrive on schedule nonetheless. October's ...

Do you know about this clever trick that could mean increasing your monthly Social Security checks? Learn how this "do-over" can help your retirement plan.