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Curated coverage from SSA, the Office of the Inspector General, AARP, and policy research groups. Plus tools and a free weekly newsletter.
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For Individuals & Retirees
Claiming, payments, benefits
When to claim, how much you'll get, payment schedules, spousal and survivor benefits — in plain English.
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Policy, legislation, program admin
Trustees reports, OIG findings, regulatory changes, and Capitol Hill activity — built for advisors, attorneys, and policy staff.
Browse professional briefingsLatest news
All newsDo Zero Years Really Hurt Your Social Security?
Worried that years without earnings will wreck your benefit? Zero years only count if you have fewer than 35 years of work — and even then, the hit is usually far smaller than people fear. Here’s what actually happens, and what does more damage.
SSDI Back Pay: How Much You're Owed
SSDI back pay is what Social Security owes you for the months between when your disability began and when you're approved — often a five-figure lump sum. It's calculated from your onset date minus a 5-month wait, and can reach up to 17 months before you applied.
Can You Get Disability for Back Pain?
Yes — back and spine conditions are among the most common bases for Social Security disability. But chronic pain alone isn't enough; you need objective medical evidence that it stops you from working, and your age plays a surprisingly large role. Here's how it works.
Can You Get Disability for Depression or Anxiety?
Yes — depression and anxiety are among the most common conditions approved for Social Security disability. But a diagnosis alone isn't enough: you must show the condition seriously limits your ability to function and work. Here's how SSA decides.
What's New in Your my Social Security Account
Social Security has refreshed its free online account with a redesigned retirement calculator that compares up to three claiming ages, a clearer claim-status tracker, and a consistent new design. Here is what changed and how to use it.
Why a Bigger Social Security COLA Can Disappoint
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment could be one of the largest in years — but a bigger COLA isn't a raise. Medicare premiums, frozen tax thresholds, and inflation itself can quietly claw back much of it. Here's why, and what to watch.
Social Security Cuts by State: The 2032 Numbers
If Congress doesn’t act before the trust fund runs short in 2032, benefits would be cut about 24% across the board — an average of $500 a month. A state-by-state analysis shows cuts ranging from $459 to $556, hitting the oldest states hardest. See your state’s numbers.
Single in Retirement? Why Your Taxes Run Higher
Single, divorced, and widowed retirees often owe more tax on the same income than couples do — because the thresholds that tax Social Security benefits are far lower for one person and haven’t changed since the 1980s. Here’s why aging solo costs more at tax time, and what can soften it.
Could Raising the Payroll Tax Save Social Security?
Raising Social Security’s 12.4% payroll tax is one of the few levers big enough to close its funding gap. The 2026 Trustees Report puts that gap at 4.42% of taxable payroll — meaning the rate would need to reach about 16.8% to fund full benefits for 75 years. Here’s what that would cost.
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Benefits Estimator
Estimate your monthly retirement benefit using the official PIA formula, with optional spousal and survivor estimates.
Disability (SSDI) Calculator
Estimate your monthly SSDI benefit, your family total with dependents, and your potential back pay.
COLA Tracker
See the current cost-of-living adjustment, find your payment dates by birthday, and view 20+ years of COLA history.
Glossary & FAQ
Plain-language definitions of essential Social Security terms, searchable and filterable by audience.
Resource Directory
A curated directory of official SSA and Medicare calculators, forms, publications, and research.
Quick answers
All guidesHow much will I get from Social Security?
Your benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years and the age you claim — anywhere from 62 (reduced) to 70 (maximum).
Estimate your benefitCan I work while collecting benefits?
Yes. But before full retirement age, Social Security temporarily withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above an annual limit — and repays it later, so it isn’t lost.
How the earnings test worksAre Social Security benefits taxed?
Up to 85% of your benefit can be federally taxable, depending on your total income. A new senior deduction (2025–2028) shields many retirees from that tax.
See if yours are taxableWhen will my payment arrive this month?
Retirement and disability benefits arrive on a Wednesday set by your birth date — the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday. SSI arrives on the 1st.
Check the 2026 scheduleWhat if my claim is denied?
You can appeal — but you generally have only 60 days, and there are four levels, starting with reconsideration. Many claims that ultimately succeed do so on appeal.
How to appeal, step by stepIs Social Security going away?
No. Even if Congress did nothing, incoming payroll taxes would still cover about 78% of benefits after the trust fund’s projected 2032 depletion — and Congress has always acted before a cut.
What the 2032 date really meansGet the free 2026 Social Security Cheat Sheet
The key numbers, claiming ages, and a pre-claim checklist — on one page. Plus a short, plain-English weekly update. No hype, no spam.
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