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Get the latest news, expert claiming advice, and 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.
The new $6,000 tax deduction for people 65-plus offers relief but comes with eligibility criteria and complexities.
From payment estimates to expert advice, our resources can help you make crucial decisions and better understand your benefits.
‘Big Beautiful Bill’ didn’t change rules on taxing benefits, but older Americans could see savings
With the SSA’s self-service portal, you can get benefit estimates, replacement cards and more using your computer, phone or tablet
Surveys show a generation closing in on retirement is increasingly anxious about the program’s fiscal health.
Court documents say an employee with the Department of Government Efficiency agreed to share sensitive data with an outside advocacy group
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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 check, filing 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 factors, most 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 jointly, you must pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. Below those thresholds, your 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 dies, his or her surviving spouse is eligible for survivor benefits. About 3.8 million widows and widowers, including some who were divorced from late beneficiaries, were 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 WORKED TO DELIVER FOR AMERICANS IN 2025
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AARP RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY DATA SECURITY
Documents say DOGE worker agreed to share data with outside group
CONGRESS PASSES BILL TO BOOST CUSTOMER SERVICE BUDGET
Measure also calls on the agency to avoid closing field offices
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