Social Security benefits become available to those who qualify as early as the age of 62, but if you can wait until 70, you'll get the maximum payment in your monthly check. That said, sometimes it doesn't make financial sense to wait.

According to a recent Social Security COLA survey by The Motley Fool that asked 2,000 retirees about the COLA, 81% of retirees say that the 2025 COLA will not help them keep up with their essential living expenses. And it isn't hard to see why.

More than half of working adults say they expect to rely on Social Security when they retire, but nearly 3 out of 4 are concerned they will not receive them. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Bankrate about ways to save for retirement.

The number of people collecting Social Security survivor benefits in the U.S. has dropped by nearly 50,000 over the past year. The Social Security Administration (SSA) delivers survivor benefits to nearly 6 million people each year.

It has nothing to do with Social Security's funding crisis. Instead, the Social Security Fairness Act will increase benefits for 2.8 million Americans that some say have had their checks unfairly reduced over the years. As a result, these seniors are now entitled to back pay. Here's what we know so far.

Social Security is a safety net most Americans believe they'll be able to access when they retire. However, the important benefits program often feels at risk of being dismantled or depleted --

Migrants paid more than $25 billion toward Social Security in 2022 although they can't collect retirement benefits.

The bad news is that you'll lose spousal benefits once you're no longer married, but you could be entitled to a different type of benefit. You'll only qualify for spousal benefits if you're currently married to someone who is entitled to either retirement or disability benefits.