These are small details, but they can trip you up if you're not prepared.

You've decided that 2025 is the year you're finally going to claim Social Security. Perhaps it's the year you're retiring as well. It's an exciting change, and those monthly benefits can be a big help ...

Applying for Social Security isn't just an exciting milestone; it's an important strategic decision that will determine how much money you get from the program. You want everything to go smoothly so ...

There are several important decisions to make about your Social Security benefits. You decide how many years you work and which jobs you work at. You also choose when you sign up. All these choices ...

There's no cut-and-dried answer about the best time to sign up for benefits.

Dear Rusty: I just turned 65 years old in February 2025. I need to sign up for Social Security but don’t even know where to start. Signed: Seeking Assistance Dear Seeking: It is fairly easy to sign up ...

Claiming Social Security has complex rules, and missteps can reduce benefits. The timing of your Social Security claim ...

Dear Liz: Your recent column on the divorced couple where the ex-wife can apply for Social Security benefits has me wondering about my own benefits. I’m 60 and my husband is 79. Can I get his Social ...

Your Social Security benefits won't cover all your expenses in retirement, but understanding how the program works and what levers you have to influence your checks can help you stretch your savings ...

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 ...

To pull this off, you need to lay some groundwork before you even get to the application form. Here are the three things I would do right now if I were applying for Social Security in 2025. It's ...

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 ...