Social Security

Social Security is a federal insurance program that provides monthly payments to retired workers, people with disabilities, and surviving family members of workers who have died. Most working people pay into Social Security through payroll taxes, and the program is designed to replace a portion of income when you stop working. Understanding how Social Security works—who pays in, when you can start receiving payments, and how much you might receive—helps you plan for your financial future.

The articles here explain the basics: how the program calculates your benefit amount, what age you can start collecting, how work affects your payments, and what happens to your benefits if you're married, divorced, or widowed. You'll also find information about Medicare may be able to access, how to manage your account, and what to expect when you first claim.