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Get the latest newsexpert claiming adviceand answers to the most frequently asked questions about Social Security benefits
About Social Security
AI-powered help from trusted AARP sources.
How do I apply or enroll for Social Security benefits?
How do I estimate my Social Security benefit?
Are Social Security benefits taxed?
Do I still have to pay taxes on my Social Security?
AARP’s use of your data is subject to our Privacy Policy. Avoid sharing sensitive details and verify results.
Measure headed to Senate also calls on agency to avoid closing field offices.
COLA increasehigher Medicare costs and a new tax break will affect beneficiaries’ bottom lines in the year to come.
From payment estimates to expert adviceour resources can help you make crucial decisions and better understand your benefits.
With the SSA’s self-service portalyou can get benefit estimatesreplacement cards and more using your computerphone or tablet
The new $6,000 tax deduction for people 65-plus offers relief but comes with eligibility criteria and complexities.
Surveys show a generation closing in on retirement is increasingly anxious about the program’s fiscal health.
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Tools & Resources
About Social Security
AI-powered help from trusted AARP sources.
How do I apply or enroll for Social Security benefits?
How do I estimate my Social Security benefit?
Are Social Security benefits taxed?
Do I still have to pay taxes on my Social Security?
AARP’s use of your data is subject to our Privacy Policy. Avoid sharing sensitive details and verify results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers on how Social Security works and how your benefits are calculated. Get expert advice on maximizing your monthly checkfiling a disability claim and pursuing your rights as a divorced spouse or survivor.
Your retirement benefit is based on your lifetime earnings in work in which you paid Social Security taxes. Higher income translates to a bigger benefit (up to a point — more on that below). The amount you are entitled to collect is modified by other factorsmost crucially the age at which you claim benefits.
Yes. You don't have to hand in your notice when you start getting retirement benefits.
But continuing to draw income from work might reduce the amount of your benefit if you claim Social Security before you reach full retirement age (FRA)the age when you qualify to collect 100 percent of the benefit calculated from your earnings history.
If your total income is more than $25,000 for an individual or $32,000 for a married couple filing jointlyyou must pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. Below those thresholdsyour benefits are not taxed. That applies to spousal benefits, survivor benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as well as to retirement benefits.
When a Social Security beneficiary dieshis or her surviving spouse is eligible for survivor benefits. About 3.8 million widows and widowersincluding some who were divorced from late beneficiarieswere receiving survivor benefits as of August 2024.
Need more help? Ask an Expert
Social Security News
Join AARP’s Fight to Protect Social Security
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How AARP Is Fighting For You
NEW SSA LEADERSHIP WILL IMPACT GENERATIONS TO COME
Your voice matters as the Senate selects a new commissioner
AARP URGES FIXES IN SOCIAL SECURITY CUSTOMER SERVICE
Website crasheslenghthy wait times are unacceptable
TELL CONGRESS IT NEEDS TO PROTECT YOUR EARNED BENEFITS
Tell your representative that Social Security must be saved
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