The 2.8% COLA for 2026 is here. We break down the average payment increases for retirees, disabled workers, and survivors to help you budget for the new year.

High earners receive a greater Social Security benefit than low earners. To calculate your benefit amount, the Social ...

The Social Security Administration uses four straightforward variables to calculate your monthly Social Security benefit. Though every age within the traditional claiming range of 62 through 70 has ...

Needless to say, Social Security is a large, complex program with over 74 million Americans receiving benefits each month. Social Security retirees can claim benefits at different ages, and the amount ...

Social Security retirees can choose to claim benefits at different ages. When they decide to claim will impact how much in benefits they receive. There are other factors impacting how much they can ...

The average Social Security retirement beneficiary is expected to receive a monthly payment of about $2,064 in 2026, based on the most recent data provided by the Social Security Administration. But ...

Social Security calculates your monthly benefits using the 35 years when your earnings were the highest. You need to earn above the wage base limit for 35 years to be eligible for the maximum benefit.

The maximum possible Social Security benefit requires a long, highly-paid career. You can maximize your monthly payment by waiting until age 70 to claim. But it might not be worth waiting to retire ...