The widow's penalty can reduce your Social Security income after a spouse dies. Learn how this works, why it happens, and ...

I continually remind my readers that they shouldn't worry too much when they read or hear reports of Social Security's ...

Congress must have heard women complaining that having to be married to some philandering jerk for 20 years to get some of his Social Security was too long. So this year, they lowered the length of ...

When a spouse dies, the emotional shock often collides with an immediate financial question: what happens to the Social Security income that helped pay the bills. Survivor rules are technical, but ...

Every couple of years, I like to cover a topic that confuses almost everyone. And that confusion comes at a time when they have so many other things on their minds. I'm talking about handling the ...

Millions of public workers received a notice this year and saw something unexpected. The Social Security Administration (SSA) ...

I continually remind my readers that they shouldn't worry too much when they read or hear reports of Social Security's ...

The Social Security Administration typically follows a schedule for when it mails out its checks. Here's when to expect your ...

Though average Social Security payouts are meaningfully increasing in the new year, most beneficiaries remain worse for the wear.

In 2026, the highest possible monthly Social Security payment will increase from $5,108 to $5,251, amounting to nearly $2,000 more annually for recipients who qualify for the maximum. The COLA applies ...

The third and final wave of Social Security payments for the month of December is coming this week. Here's what recipients ...

Jordyn joined Investopedia in February 2025. She was previously a freelance writer covering lifestyle, entertainment, politics in the Midwest, and more. Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images Social ...