AARP Hearing Center
Jon Krause
Key takeaways
- AARP offers free tools and guides to help you understand and plan for Social Security.
- Resources cover estimating benefits, deciding when to claim and different benefit options.
- Users can get tailored answers from human experts or our AI-powered Ask AARP tool.
Want to estimate your future Social Security payment? Need a how-to on applying for disability benefits? Wondering if you will owe taxes on your Social Security income?
AARP can help. Here are some of our free resources that can aid you in navigating Social Security and making the most of the payments you’ve earned.
Ask AARP: Located at the top of our main Social Security page and powered by generative AI, Ask AARP helps you get the most out of AARP’s Social Security (and Medicare) resources with tailored answers drawn exclusively from our trusted, fact-checked, expert-reviewed content. Get the information you need in seconds, ask follow-up questions and click on source links to the full articles with additional details.
Social Security Calculator: Use our popular calculator to estimate your future benefits and get comparative data on claiming at different ages. It’s a quick and easy way to see how much higher your monthly payments will be if you wait to apply for Social Security until your full retirement age or later rather than claiming at age 62, the earliest option. AARP’s tools and calculators page has additional resources to help you bolster your retirement savings and fit Social Security into your larger financial strategy.
Join My Social Security Day!
On Aug. 14, Social Security’s 91st birthday, we’re looking back on its history as a bedrock of American retirement security — and looking forward to its place in your financial future.
My Social Security Day is about the money you earn with every paycheck. Take a few minutes to check your account at SSA.gov, review your Social Security statement and see your personalized payment estimates.
Take the pledge to check your Social Security statement on Aug. 14, because you've earned it and you should know what to expect.
Understanding Social Security Retirement: When you’re ready to start planning for Social Security, begin your journey with our eight-part introduction to retirement benefits. Get the basics on how monthly payments are determined, deciding the right time to claim, and how work, taxes and health care can affect your Social Security income.
Social Security FAQs: Get straightforward answers, vetted by Social Security experts and written in plain English, to more than 200 common questions about how Social Security works for retirees, survivors, spouses and children, and people with disabilities. You’ll find practical info on everything from benefit applications and disability appeals to eligibility and earnings tests, plus sections devoted to navigating Social Security services.
Ask an Expert: Have a specific question about your own Social Security situation? Submit a query online to two of AARP’s experts: Jammie Lyell, an AARP program manager who previously worked as a technical expert at the Social Security Administration (SSA), and Stephen Richardson, a former SSA claims representative and public affairs official. They can share tailored responses, based on their deep knowledge of SSA policies and procedures, to help you address individual issues and concerns.
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