Losing a spouse instantly turns abstract retirement math into an urgent, deeply personal problem. The first decisions you make about Social Security after a death can shape your income for decades, ...

My ex-husband passed away four years ago. We were married for 20 years. I’m going to be 66 in May. I would let the death benefits go if his Social Security was more generous. I already get death ...

Every couple of years, I like to cover a topic that confuses almost everyone. That confusion comes at a time when they have so many other things on their minds. I’m talking about handling the Social ...

Losing a spouse is already an overwhelming emotional experience, but the financial consequences can be equally devastating. One of the biggest surprises surviving spouses face is the "widow's penalty, ...

A friend of my wife told her, and she believes, she could receive a Social Security benefit based on my SS benefit that I’m currently receiving while I’m still alive. I told her she could only receive ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tom Hager – “Mister Social Security” – offers expert advice from Ohio. This article explains the many Social Security benefits ...