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 ...

Katharine Paljug is a financial writer and editor with over a decade of industry experience. Her writing has covered nearly every aspect of the financial world, from investing in forex to paying for ...

Your age at sign up will dictate the size of your Social Security benefit. Spouses can coordinate their claiming strategies to maximize their household benefits. Having the necessary documents at hand ...

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 ...

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 ...