This site explains how Social Security, Medicare, and retirement accounts work as systems. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice, and it does not tell you what to do with your own retirement. For official guidance, see the Social Security Administration and Medicare.gov. What this is.

Social Security

Social Security

All Social Security articles from Retirement Plainly.

Latest Articles

Soc. Sec. 6 min read

401(k) In-Service Rollover Rules Explained

In-service rollover rules let active employees move 401(k) funds to an IRA while still employed, subject to age, vest...

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Soc. Sec. 6 min read

How the Social Security Spousal Benefit Offset Works

The Social Security spousal benefit offset reduces the 50% spousal ceiling by the worker's own retirement benefit, pr...

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Soc. Sec. 6 min read

Social Security Full Retirement Age by Birth Year

Social Security's full retirement age is set by birth year, ranging from 65 to 67, and determines the baseline from w...

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Soc. Sec. 6 min read

How the Social Security Trust Fund Works

The Social Security trust funds collect payroll taxes, hold U.S. Treasury securities, and redeem them to pay monthly ...

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Soc. Sec. 6 min read

How the Social Security Benefit Formula Weights Earnings

The Social Security benefit formula applies three progressive bend-point percentages to a worker's average indexed mo...

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Social Security 6 min read

How Delayed Retirement Credits Accrue Past FRA

Delayed retirement credits increase a Social Security benefit by a fixed percentage for each month claimed after full retirement age, up to age 70.

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Social Security 6 min read

How Social Security Spousal Benefits Are Calculated

Social Security spousal benefits are capped at 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount, subject to reductions for early claiming and offset rules.

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