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

The average benefit has reached a historic high, but it may not go as far as you'd hoped.

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. Dear Liz: I’m 59. In 8 years, I will qualify for an average Social Security income. I have no retirement saved and ...

Meeting four key criteria could qualify you for spousal Social Security benefits.

Your benefit will be about one-half of your spouse’s at their full retirement age (provided they wait until then). You generally can’t file for spousal benefits until your spouse has already filed for ...

Claiming Social Security at 62 will reduce your monthly retirement benefit by up to 30% and your spousal benefit by up to 35%. If you're still working, you could lose more benefits to the earnings ...

By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens Dear Rusty: After 16 years of marriage, we were divorced. I ...

If you're nearing retirement or already there, you may wonder: Can you maximize your senior benefits by waiting to claim Social Security? The answer is yes. For many, the decision of when to claim can ...