Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tom Hager – “Mister Social Security” – offers expert advice from Ohio. This article explains the many Social Security benefits ...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers more than just retirement benefits. It provides crucial support to families when a spouse or parent passes away or becomes disabled. In fact, the SSA ...

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 spousal benefits allows you to earn up to 50% of the primary claiming spouse's benefit. Note that claiming spousal benefits early results in a larger reduction than for standard benefits.

2026 Social Security COLA: The Little Known Data Shift That Could Impact Millions of Retirees' Benefits The BLS has changed how it measures the inflationary data that determines whether Social ...