These Retirees Are Looking at $4,152 in Social Security. Could You Be 1 of Them?
The math behind Social Security's top retirement payout is stricter than most people expect, and a six-figure salary might not even come close to qualifying you for it.
All Work
Maurie Backman
Some Retirees Get $62,172 a Year in Social Security. Here’s How
A small group of retirees collects a Social Security check that dwarfs what most Americans ever see, and the rules behind qualifying are far stricter than people expect.
Social Security Retirees Just Got a Big Clue About 2027’s COLA
New inflation data continues to reshape expectations for what Social Security retirees could see in their 2027 benefit checks, with multiple analysts now trimming their forecasts after July's CPI-W came in at 3.4%.
Social Security’s $30 Trillion Funding Gap Is Getting Harder to Ignore
Social Security's projected funding shortfall just jumped by a staggering amount in a single year, and the window for Congress to act without painful consequences is narrowing fast. What that means for your retirement…
The $65,160 Income Limit Some Social Security Recipients Need to Know About
Working while collecting Social Security sounds simple enough, but a little-known earnings rule can quietly shrink your monthly checks before you even realize it applies to you.
AI Isn’t Just Taking Jobs. It Could Spell Trouble for Social Security
AI is already reshaping hiring and automating jobs, but the ripple effects reach far beyond your paycheck. The program millions of Americans count on for retirement may be more exposed to this shift than…
Lawmakers Fight to Solve $24,480 Social Security Problem
A little-known earnings rule threatens to slash Social Security checks for retirees who keep working, and some lawmakers are now pushing to tear it down entirely.
Millions of Retirees Could See Their Social Security Increase if This Bill Passes
A bicameral bill now working its way through Congress could fundamentally reshape how Social Security works for retirees who go back to work, and the stakes for millions of older Americans living on tight…
The $6,000 Social Security Reprieve That Won’t Be Around Much Longer
Millions of retirees are enjoying a tax break they may not realize carries an expiration date. When it disappears, Social Security checks could shrink in ways many seniors never anticipated.
The $600 Social Security Decision That Could Actually Be Worth $103,000 Over Time
Claiming Social Security at 62 feels like a safe bet when the future is uncertain, but for people who live longer than expected, that one filing decision can quietly drain a staggering amount of…
3 Social Security Changes Millions of Retirees Should Watch Closely This Year
Social Security's trust fund faces a hard deadline, a new bill could reshape the rules for working retirees, and benefit projections for 2027 are already shifting. Here is what every retiree needs to monitor…
The 2027 COLA Adds $98 a Month. Inflation Takes Most of It Back.
Social Security's projected 2027 COLA sounds like good news for retirees, but the forces driving that bigger check may quietly ensure you never actually feel it.
The Average Social Security Check Jumps This Much in 2027
Social Security's 2027 COLA forecast just got a significant upgrade, and analysts say it could deliver the biggest raise seniors have seen in years. But Medicare and unfinished inflation data could quietly erase much…
A 22% Benefit Cut? Why Social Security’s Future Is Back in the Spotlight
Although a financially sound retirement often hinges on a combination of savings and Social Security, many older Americans lack the former. A recent AARP survey found that 20% of Americans ages 50 and over…
2027’s Social Security COLA Could Be the Biggest in Years. Here’s Why Retirees Shouldn’t Celebrate
“Stingy. Inadequate. Unfair.” These are just some of the words seniors most likely used to describe their 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. And given that this year’s raise came in at just…
The Roth Conversion Strategy That Could Save You $21,000
There are plenty of reasons to consider a Roth conversion ahead of or in the early stages of retirement. With a Roth conversion, you move money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a…
The Average Retiree Gets $2,083 Per Month, But 1 Decision Could Add Hundreds More
For many retirees, Social Security serves as a critical source of income. In fact, the average retired worker currently receives about $2,083 per month in benefits. While that monthly payment can help cover essential…
Social Security Retirees Are Now Looking at a 2027 COLA Forecast of 3.4% to 3.6%
When the Social Security Administration announced that benefits would get a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, many retirees were disappointed. A bout of elevated inflation pushed the 2027 COLA forecast as high as 4.7%…
Trump Promised Not to Cut Social Security. He May Have Done So By Accident
Is Social Security going to have to cut benefits? That’s the big question on many people’s minds in light of the latest Trustees report. In June, the public got an update on the program’s…
Congress Has 6 Years to Save Social Security. Here’s What’s at Stake
The Social Security Trustees’ latest update came out in June, and the news wasn’t fantastic. The Trustees confirmed that Social Security’s Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund is expected to run out of money…