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 ...

Your filing age will have an effect on the amount of Social Security you get each month. Before claiming benefits, figure out if you're old enough to avoid a reduction. Assess your work situation and ...

1. Have I reached my full retirement age? The nice thing about Social Security is that benefits become available starting at age 62. But if you want your monthly benefit without a reduction, you'll ...