To plan smart for retirement, estimate your Social Security benefits years before you'll need the money. Here's how to do it.

Key Takeaways You’ll receive 132% of your monthly benefit amount if you wait until age 70 to begin collecting.If you start ...

The standard advice is to hold off, but most retirees claim the benefit as soon as they can, at age 62. Here’s what to know ...

Explore the Social Security benefit amounts you can receive at various retirement ages and whether the monthly amount or the lifetime amount matters more to you.

According to the Social Security Administration, taking your benefits as early as possible (age 62 for those born after 1960) ...

At 63, Mark Bintzler is counting down the months to a long-anticipated retirement. "We like to play golf. We like, you know, want to do all the activities. And the other thing I didn't want to do is, ...

Don't expect it to provide the lion's share of your retirement income. It's best to set up multiple income streams you can rely on. Take time to have an overall retirement plan in place. For starters, ...

Social Security is one of the largest line items in the federal budget and helps provide more than $1.5 trillion in benefits annually to an average of 68 million Americans. Choosing when to receive ...

Those who work long, high-paying careers can receive thousands of dollars above the average Social Security benefit.

Many experts advise against taking Social Security early. Retirees who can wait until later to claim their Social Security checks will enjoy a more considerable monthly benefit. But for some, waiting ...

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to clarify how many Social Security beneficiaries currently receive paper payments. (NEXSTAR) — You may be in line to receive a benefits check from the ...

You can either budget for these taxes on your own or request that the Social Security Administration withhold money from your checks. Start planning now to avoid sticker shock this tax season. Social ...