And how to avoid them.

Quick ReadWhen one spouse dies, Social Security pays the survivor only the larger benefit, potentially dropping a couple's $5 ...

Most married couples approach Social Security claiming with one question in mind: When should we file to maximize our retirement income? Financial advisers say there’s another question that deserves ...

Social Security provides guaranteed income for life to retired workers and their spouses. In most cases, that income becomes more important over time as other sources of savings, such as 401(k) plans ...

Social Security's one-time death benefit is just $255, frozen since the 1950s and never indexed to inflation, shocking grieving spouses who expected real help. Delaying the higher-earning spouse's ...

A retired couple collecting two Social Security checks, splitting household bills, and filing taxes jointly probably assumes that arrangement will hold for decades, and for many it does. But when one ...

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For veterans who died prior to Jan. 1, 1993, the payment is tied to their pay grade. Spouses get up to $3,894 in base ...

Social Security benefits are generally the largest source of retirement income for seniors aged 65 and older, according to the Social Security Administration. But many Americans misunderstand certain ...