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.

Dear Help Me Retire, I am 63 and decided I want to go ahead and start drawing my Social Security retirement benefits. I am still working full time. I was told that I cannot receiv

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.

The monthly payment schedule for Social Security checks has three waves, all occurring on Wednesdays. The upcoming check is part of the third wave.

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.

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.

Mike Conrath, chief retirement strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, emphasized that the most important thing is to be well-informed about the factors to consider when deciding when to claim Social Security.

Key Points Delaying Social Security only makes sense up to a certain point. Filing early isn’t necessarily a mistake you can’t undo. Not having an earnings history doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get benefits.