A 60-year-old widow sits at her kitchen table with a Social Security statement and a calendar. Her husband passed away a few months ago at age 67. He had been collecting $2,840 a month in benefits since claiming early at 65.

A 68-year-old woman buries her husband on a Tuesday. By Friday, the funeral home has filed paperwork with Social Security reporting his death. She assumes the rest will sort itself out. It will not. There is one form she has to file herself,

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Steve Vernon, FSA, helps retirees make their money last for life. What’s the most you can receive from Social Security? The answer is…it depends on your age, your work history, your ...

Social Security benefits can provide you with a stream of retirement income that is reliable. Deciding when to take benefits is an important question, especially if you’re married and hope to qualify for spousal benefits. If you’re already taking ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Eric's career includes extensive work in both public and corporate accounting with responsibilities such as preparing and reviewing federal, state ...

“A defined benefit plan is a type of pension plan that is fully funded by employer contributions and is a promise to pay benefits at retirement based on various factors such as age, salary and years of service with the company,” says Valerie McClendon, a financial advisor at Boston Wealth Strategies.