The best time to start collecting Social Security retirement benefits varies greatly between individuals. There are many factors to consider, including whether you are married, whether you or your spouse are still working, whether you are healthy or ill, whether you have other income, and whether you come from a long-lived family.
How Collecting Early Retirement Affects Spousal Dependents and Survivors Benefits
Question: I'm considering claiming my retirement benefits early, since I was just denied disability benefits.
How Beneficiaries Can Claim Life Insurance and Social Security Benefits
Beneficiaries need to know how to collect life insurance and Social Security payments that belonged to the deceased; the executor of the estate doesn't usually handle this task.
How Spouses Can Maximize Their Social Security Retirement Benefits
Married couples can sometimes able to strategize the timing of their Social Security retirement benefits to get higher benefits for one or both spouses.
Will I Get Penalized for Working While Collecting Social Security Retirement?
Until you reach full retirement age, working while receiving early retirement benefits may reduce your Social Security retirement benefits.
When to Claim Social Security Benefits
Should you claim Social Security benefits at early retirement age, full retirement age, or later? Learn the pros and cons of each option.
Reduction in Social Security Early Retirement for the Self-Employed
Even if you don’t make over the earned income limit for early retirement, you can still lose benefits if you work for your business.
Nolo's book covers how to maximize Social Security benefits by timing your and your spousals collection of benefits. Also explains Medicare and Medicaid long-term care rules benefits.