Many couples don’t realize the importance of claiming decisions until it’s too late ...

But amid that grief, the surviving spouse is often left making high-stakes financial decisions at the worst possible time. Income might drop overnight, yet the bills keep coming, and major financial ...

For many older Americans, one of the most critical decisions they might make is figuring out when to sign up for Social Security. A lot of people end up with little to no savings toward the end of ...

To better understand their potential benefits and financial risks in retirement, both spouses should be aware of some benefits planning realities.

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, ...

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A new bill could boost Social Security benefits for widowed and surviving divorced spouses. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Surviving Income Fair Treatment (SWIFT) Act in ...

Make sure you understand how to maximize your benefits. Figure out how important survivor benefits might be to you. See how Social Security fits into your overall retirement finances. Deciding when to ...

This could be the better route for millions of couples.

For married couples with unequal historical earnings, it may make sense for the lower income spouse to file for Social Security benefits early or before the higher earner. Ultimately, deciding when to ...

Losing a spouse can be devastating. But amid that grief, the surviving spouse is often left making high-stakes financial decisions at the worst possible time. Income might drop overnight, yet the ...