For Individuals
Social Security for retirees and workers
Whether you are years from retirement or claiming soon, start here for clear, practical guidance on your benefits.
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Estimate your benefit
Use the official PIA formula to project your monthly retirement benefit.
Find your payment date
See when your benefit arrives each month based on your birthday.
Learn the basics
Full retirement age, COLA, spousal and survivor benefits, explained simply.
Official forms & guides
Apply, appeal, and find SSA publications in our resource directory.
News for individuals
MoreRetiring on Social Security: How Far It Goes by State
Social Security replaces only about 40% of a middle earner's income — and the savings gap it leaves swings enormously by state, from cost-of-living 17% below average in Oklahoma to 86% above in Hawaii. Here's a map, the gap math, and how to size your own number.
The Social Security 2100 Act: What It Would Change
House Democrats' flagship bill (H.R. 9519) would boost every check, tie COLAs to seniors' actual costs, create a $1,663 minimum benefit, and cut taxes on benefits — funded by taxing income above $400,000. It's a bill with long odds, not a coming raise. Here's what's actually in it.
Which States Tax Social Security in 2026? Just 8 Left
Only 8 states tax Social Security benefits for 2026 — and every one exempts large groups of retirees. West Virginia's tax ended January 1, completing its phase-out. Here's the state-by-state map, plus the two caveats that matter more than the headline.
Gen X and Social Security: Claiming Into the 2032 Window
The oldest Gen Xers reach full retirement age in 2032 — the same year the trust fund is projected to run short. Surveys show rising anxiety, and fear is pushing some toward a costly claiming mistake. Here's what's actually true under current law and what to do about it.
Can the Stock Market Save Social Security?
Borrow $1.5 trillion, invest it in stocks, let returns fix the shortfall — the idea keeps resurfacing because it promises no visible pain. Independent analyses of the leading proposal found it fully repays its borrowing in at most 36% of simulations. Here's the full picture, explained neutrally.
Workers' Comp and SSDI: New Data and the 80% Rule
A new national report says workers' comp paid $64.1 billion in benefits in 2023 — and if you ever collect workers' comp and SSDI together, a federal rule caps the combined total at 80% of your pre-disability earnings. Here's how the two programs fit together.
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