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8 Ways to Increase Social Security Benefits
Senior Writer | Personal finance, credit scores, economics
Senior Assigning Editor | Los Angeles Times; University of California, San Diego; Microsoft
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Knowing how to increase Social Security benefits is important, since those checks will likely be a major source of your income in retirement.
Unfortunately, many people don’t understand how Social Security really works. They claim too early, miss out on important benefits and fail to use strategies that could boost their lifetime income. Their mistakes can cost them as much as $250,000, researchers have estimated.
Here are eight ways to increase your Social Security benefits.
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- Ready to get started? Here's what to do next
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- Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medigap plans
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- The parts of Medicare
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- NERDUP BY NERDWALLET
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- What are back taxes?
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- » Editor's note
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- Premium: $22.99 per month
- 2. Take advantage of car insurance discounts
- Discover® Bank: Best online banking experience
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- How to make this a habit, not a passing trend
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- Are dapps really decentralized?
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- Best for those with a Upromise account: Upromise Mastercard
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- 3. The quality of cardholder perks is questionable
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- Do I need a financial planner?
- Why are gas prices going up?
- Joann
- Will pre-qualifying affect my credit score?
- Calculate your DTI
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- 3. A character meal
- 30% of your income: wants
- 4. Real estate business
- 2. Apply for a credit card consolidation loan
- Minority Business Development Agency Centers
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- 1. Calculate the car payment you can afford
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- March
- Google Fi Wireless
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- How much is YouTube TV for 1 year?
- What can cause a 3-day closing delay?
- 3. 10% point bonus each year
- Budget for repairs even before you buy
- 2. Track your money
- EveryDollar
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- Bank of America vs. Chase: Basic checking accounts
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- The bear put spread
- 3. It comes with an introductory balance transfer offer
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- 4. Ask questions
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- 2. Consider debt consolidation
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- 6. Start a dropshipping business
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- 3. Call the IRS to locate your EIN
- Best car insurance companies: Our winners
- Do personal credit scores affect business credit scores?
- 2. Empower: Best for fast cash
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- Best for extra perks: Aetna
- Credit cards = happiness?
- How to cut your Hawaii vacation costs
- Step 2: Analyze the ETF
- How much does a cashier’s check cost?
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- For credit and savings
- How to open a spousal IRA
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- 1. The home must be your principal residence
- 5. Use the dishwasher
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- 2. You get free membership to the retailer's rewards program
- WEX
- Does Medigap or Medicare Advantage cover eye exams?
- Benefits that differ between Plan F and Plan G
- All year
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- How to calculate debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage
- Average daily balance
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- How to calculate your net worth
- The type of central air unit: $600 to $24,000
- 4. Open the mobile deposit function in your bank app
- Best car insurance companies: Our winners
- Step 3: Claim dependents, including children
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- About Wells Fargo
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- Is YouTube Premium worth it?
- Try a simple budgeting plan
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- 3. Through the mountains
- 4. The card pairs well with Sun Country's loyalty program
- How are dividends paid out?
- Cost of term life vs. whole life
- What is the Navient lawsuit?
- Will I qualify for accounts receivable factoring?
- Weigh your family’s medical needs
- 3. Hospice benefits
- Needs
- Who should make estimated quarterly tax payments?
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- Best for member satisfaction: State Farm Medicare Supplement Insurance
- Leveraged ETF expenses
- How to claim the child tax credit
- Is a reverse stock split good or bad?
- Boost
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- Health insurance deductible
- How to choose and manage a credit-builder loan
- Coinsurance vs. copay
- Stay on the beach or rent a car every day, but don’t do both
- Other perks
- Amica home insurance coverage
- 3. Drive safely
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- 5. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
- Cheap cell phone plans from brands owned by the big three
- Enjoy it
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- ITIN: What it is and how to get one
- Price vs. yield
- 2. Bing
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- 3. Among cruise line cards, the sign-up bonus is generous
- 20% of your income: savings and debt
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- Find the net price
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- 3. Choose how much you want to invest
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- For non-U.S. citizens
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- A weird double standard
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- 4. A 25% boost when redeeming for travel via Chase
- Costs
- Country Financial: Best for using an agent
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- 3. Explore funds over individual stocks
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- Best for a flat cash-back rate: CollegeCounts 529 Rewards Visa Card
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- Risks of self-directed IRAs
- 4. Making a down payment that's too small
- Pros:
- Types of financial planners
- 4. You’ll get a break on fees
- DTI ratio examples
- Water
- Jetty renters insurance coverage
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- 4. Peer-to-peer lending
- Step 4: Refine your withholdings
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- USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express® Credit Card
- 4. Find the right car for you
- 3. Set up balance alerts to stay on top of spending
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- 1. High-yield savings accounts
- 5. It comes with some other perks, too
- American Airlines premium economy vs. Main Cabin Extra
- Average annual life insurance rates for women
- Mid fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Goodbudget, for hands-on envelope budgeting
- 7. Curate subscription boxes
- Consider whether you want a referral system of care
- 3. Don’t ask for too much cash
- 3. They're not great cards if you travel internationally
- Local sales
- Top credit cards that offer preapproval without a hard pull
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- DTI for VA loan
- Best insurance company overall: Travelers
- Best life insurance company overall: MassMutual
- 2. Find and compare ETFs with screening tools
- Where to find credit-builder loans
- 3. Decide how many shares to buy
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- Report errors or ask questions ASAP
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- Conventional mortgages: As low as 3% down payment
- How do you avoid the net investment income tax?
- Tips for secondhand gifting
- What are the best dapps?
- Fly on the holidays (or as far from it as possible)
- Strategy 1: Negotiate the out-the-door price
- Google Pay
- To achieve tax diversification
- Why is net worth important?
- 5. Take clear pictures of the check with your mobile device
- Google Pay
- Best insurance company overall: Travelers
- 6. Video production
- The percentage method
- Think beyond year one
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- 1. States with no income tax
- Our pick for: Gas station spending
- Credit union personal loan
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- How do you set up a lady bird deed?
- Personal loans
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- Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, OfferUp
- 3. Learn to use AI tools
- Is PMI tax-deductible?
- Lifting a TransUnion credit freeze
- 2. Take a cut with affiliate marketing
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- How to find high-yield alternatives
- 5. A $50 hotel credit
- Figure out base project costs
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- 3. Budget for emergencies
- Vio Bank: Best money market account
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- How many years can you file back taxes for?
- Bank of America vs. Chase: Basic savings accounts
- 2. You must have owned the home for at least two years
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- Best for those with a Greenlight subscription
- 4. You won’t want to carry a balance
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- Cons:
- 3. Rewards are valuable and redemption is straightforward
- Robo-advisors
- How else can you get eye exam coverage?
- What’s the cost comparison between Plan F and Plan G?
- Determine if the car is selling for a fair price
- Kirkland’s
- Establishing domicile
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- Take shorter showers
- 5 best biotech stocks in the S&P 500 by one-year performance
- 1. Making money
- Step 5: Sign and date your W-4
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- Zengo Wallet: 4.8 out of 5 stars
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- Allow up to 50% of your income for needs
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- Learn more
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- April
- LifeLock pros
- Step 3: Buy the gold ETF
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- E
- Goodbudget
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- 4. If your re-booked flight is at least three hours later, you’ll receive a meal voucher
- Our pick for: Elevated rewards
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- Best car insurance in Massachusetts for having few customer complaints: Mapfre
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- What are the risks of buying lottery tickets with a credit card?
- 3. Facebook
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- 2. More time means more growth
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- Do tipped workers earn the minimum wage?
- 4. You’ll skip out on fees …
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- Home equity loan rates in 2023
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- What qualifies:
- Personal loan calculator
- 4. You won't be able to upgrade to an unsecured card
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- 4. Select a provider to open your Roth IRA
- When can you stop paying for PMI?
- Does FDIC insurance cover multiple accounts at the same bank?
- If your income reduces your Roth IRA contribution
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- 6. Combine points from multiple cards
- What if I lose the cashier's check?
- Wheels and maneuverability
- Oportun
- Citi
- How to open an ABLE account
- What happens if you don't pay your back taxes?
- Standard deduction 2024 (taxes filed 2025)
- 3. You must have lived in the house for at least two years in the five-year period before you sold it
- How many banks have collapsed?
- Is a high-deductible health plan right for you?
- Do I have to pay California state tax?
- Refundable fares
- Replace your showerhead
- Size of the AC system
- Fresh Start for incarcerated student loan borrowers
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- Average annual full coverage car insurance premium by company
- Finding a real estate attorney
- 3. Work with your creditors
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- Taxes
- 1. Cash dividends
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- Our pick for: No credit check at all
- How to invest in dividend stocks
- Cruising versus flying
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- Other ways to build credit
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- Final steps
- How did we determine the value of Capital One miles?
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- Car insurance deductible
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- Jumbo loans: As low as 5%-10% down payment (varies)
- 5. Check your emotions at the door
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- Strategy 2: Make a preemptive refusal
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- Is Medigap Plan F worth it?
- Inflation example
- Arranging to see a private seller's car
- What states are increasing minimum wages in 2024?
- How to increase your net worth
- 5. Online savings accounts
- Get more help with monthly budget planning
- W-4 form 2024
- IFundWomen Universal Grant Application Database
- EVs are better for the environment
- 2. States with flat income tax rates
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- Our pick for: Online purchases
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- Get a credit-builder product or a secured loan
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- 5. Redemption is limited
- How to choose between term and whole life insurance
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- How much car insurance you need
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- Best for premium discounts: Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement Insurance
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- Eat cheaper
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- Additional functionality
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- The long straddle
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- To benefit from special offerings or features
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- 5. … But you won’t want to carry a balance
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- Pros and cons of investing in biotech stocks
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- How much Medicare Part A costs
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- May
- 3. Place the trade
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- If you're renting a car under 25
- Price
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- What state has the lowest gas prices?
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- What is a good DTI ratio?
- Adjust the temperature on your water heater
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- Pros of biotech stocks
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- What is a business CD?
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- 4. Fiverr
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- 3. Land a brand deal and make sponsored content
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- 4. Keep the deadline in mind
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- What are fleet cards?
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- Choose whole life if you:
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- 3. Set a target purchase price
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- Our pick for: Current users
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- What part of my income gets taxed by California?
- Step 4: Gather loan documents
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- Alaska
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- Note: Qualifications have been adjusted for 2021
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- High fee: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- EveryDollar, for simple zero-based budgeting
- Is accounts receivable financing a good idea?
- Perks that are the same
- 5. Use collateral to secure the loan
- Etsy
- Our pick for: Beginner-friendly features
- Our pairing for: Everyday purchases
- Other low-down-payment mortgage options
- Certain repositioning cruises
- Disability housing grants
- Best for extra benefits: Anthem Medicare Supplement Insurance
- 4. Varo: Best for existing bank customers
- Renters insurance deductible
- Is a credit-builder loan good for my situation?
- Consider a condo
- Travel and shopping protections
- U.S. Bank
- 7. Improve your credit
- How much should you put down on a house?
- Do I need to worry about the net investment income tax?
- H
- Bonus features
- Next steps:
- 4. Check your credit reports after 30 days to make sure the change was made
- Getting flight delay compensation from Frontier
- Claiming tax-deductible donations on your tax return
- Things to consider
- Additional standard deduction 2023 (taxes due 2024)
- Hotels for military only
- Credit cards that help repay student loans
- Book one to three months in advance
- What is hyperinflation?
- Maximum and average DTI ratios by mortgage type
- 3 tips to control central air conditioning installation costs
- Consumer experience
- How to buy biotech stocks
- Use a co-signer
- 11. Business planning service
- Do I have to update my W-4 every year?
- Bizee’s Fresh Start Business Grant
- You can use credit card benefits to travel in basic economy
- Our pick for: Simple cash back
- Mutual fund fees
- Exodus: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Business CD vs. business money market account
- Who needs full coverage car insurance?
- How to report dividend income on your taxes
- 12. Start a virtual event planning company
- Do you have preferred doctors?
- NerdWallet's List of Best QuickBooks Alternatives
- 7. Suspend your benefit
- 4. Use budgeting or expense-tracking apps
- Citi Premier® Card and Citi Custom Cash® Card
- 3. Decide how much stock you want to buy
- 2024 child tax credit news update
- Protection and insurance benefits
- Experian business credit scores
- June
- 4. Sit back and relax
- Best for low-cost plan availability: Humana
- 4. Sell some merch
- In network
- 9. Coverage if your trip is canceled or delayed
- USAA: Best for military and veterans
- MoCaFi
- Consumer experience
- 6. Optimize your finances with tax planning
- Compare the best checking accounts
- 7. Know your strategy
- 5. Vestiaire Collective
- Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
- 3. The government might owe you money.
- How do you buy 10-year Treasury notes?
- Best for those with a SoFi Loan: SoFi Unlimited 2% Credit Card
- Primary vs. secondary coverage
- Is APY variable?
- 6. Ignoring VA, USDA and FHA loan programs
- Afterpay: No-credit-check buy now, pay later loans
- 5. You don't have to get the card to get many of its benefits
- Samsung Pay
- Have the car inspected by a mechanic
- What do I need for my loan application?
- Days in the cycle
- The drawbacks of owning multiple brokerage accounts
- If you want a refund because Hawaiian canceled your flight
- 1. Examine your cooling needs
- How we assigned star ratings
- Samsung Pay
- How to minimize the tax impact of a bonus
- More about buying life insurance as a senior
- Nationwide the EV infrastructure is in its infancy
- United Airlines
- 2023 tax rates by state
- Bankruptcy
- 3. Bonds
- Demographics
- 6. Dividend funds
- Alternatives to term and whole life insurance
- Additional child and dependent care credit requirements
- Full list of the best car insurance companies in Pennsylvania
- Excess Roth IRA contributions
- Travel
- Best life insurance company for consumer experience: Northwestern Mutual
- Should you act or sit tight?
- How can I avoid cashier's check fraud?
- 3. Decide how much stock you want to buy
- Account linking
- Our pick for: A 0% introductory APR
- Additional standard deduction 2024 (taxes due 2025)
- Full list of the best auto insurance companies in Massachusetts
- Loan limits
- Base hotels
- How are gas prices determined?
- The long strangle
- How to protect against inflation
- Florida
- Individual biotech stocks
- 2. Managing money
- 12. Tax consulting
- 4. Borrow from your 401(k)
- Consumer experience
- Average cost of renters insurance in Texas by city
- 1. Review your W-4
- The bottom line
- 3. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
- 7. Determine which warranties are right for you
- How to get a loan from a credit union
- 5. Upwork
- LLC self-employment taxes
- Is a large network important?
- Medicare Part A eligibility
- Benefits unique to the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Electronics
- How to apply for a loan
- 5. Make money from your blog with affiliate links
- Native American Direct Loan
- How to use British Airways Avios for a flight to Hawaii
- Life insurance deductible
- Out of network
- What's next?
- 10. Baggage delay insurance
- Durability and security
- Other ways to maximize Budget Rent a Car discounts
- 4. You can avoid problems getting a loan.
- What’s covered and what’s not
- Calculating capital gains tax on a home sale
- Chubb: Best homeowners insurance for high-value homes
- 5. LinkedIn
- Best custodial Roth IRAs
- Am I a resident for California state tax purposes?
- Power and lighting
- 2. Time it right
- How we verified our data
- FamZoo Prepaid Card
- Home equity line of credit
- How to control your dividend tax bill
- Home equity loan requirements
- Debt settlement
- Government bonds
- Become an authorized user
- Paperwork and compliance
- 13. Sell zero-waste products
- Filing status
- Exchange frequently? Consider a multicurrency account
- Swappa, Gazelle
- Did you work in multiple states?
- 6. Pick your investments
- How to pay estimated taxes
- Hotels to book with points in New York City
- So, how much is a U.S. passport?
- Wells Fargo
- 8. Don’t drive a lot? Consider usage-based insurance
- How long do things last?
- Home renovation loan alternatives
- Compare the best banks, credit unions and cash management accounts
- Standard deduction for dependents
- Do you pay tax on T-notes?
- Why did Silicon Valley Bank fail?
- Resident status rules
- Hawaiian Airlines travel credits
- Become an authorized user
- How to adjust your Form W-4
- Venmo Small Business Grant
- There are upfront costs to charge at home
- United credit cards with free baggage
- Finding a car you can afford
- Cheapest car insurance after a DUI
- Coinbase Wallet: 4.4 out of 5 stars
- Watch the calendar
- Consider paying with miles
- How to evaluate dividends
- 6. Find the right lender
- How to save on car insurance
- 8. Use a do-over
- 5. Explore other expense-tracking methods
- 5. PayPal
- In case of medical emergencies
- Why do I need a business credit score?
- Citigroup
- 5. Offer memberships
- 11. Rental car coverage
- Recap: How to get a cashier's check
- Pay with a credit card that earns bonus rewards on rental cars
- Other considerations to determine your down payment
- Security
- 5. Safeguard your Social Security.
- How to switch plans and keep your number
- Best for a big sign-up bonus: Laurel Road Student Loan Cashback Credit Card
- 7. Not knowing whether to pay discount points
- Financial planner vs. financial advisor
- Fleet expense management tools
- Paying for a car purchased from a private seller
- Nevada
- Switch to LED lighting
- 3. Look for equipment rebates and tax credits
- Other Jetty products for renters
- How it works
- Perks await when you fly economy with elite status
- The bottom line on short selling
- Should you pay rent with your credit card?
- 14. Make products for pets
- Earned income
- Step 4: Compare out-of-pocket costs
- Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
- Personal loan alternatives for low-income borrowers
- 1. Automate transfers
- July
- Other types of insurance deductibles
- Limit orders
- Interior storage space
- Dave
- 7. Invest to build your future goals
- Next steps
- Property standards
- Set a price alert
- Which credit cards to use for primary coverage
- How to use Samsung Pay
- What's next?
- Biotech stock ETFs
- 13. PR agency
- 2. Make sure your bonus is actually taxable
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
- Can you lose money in mutual funds?
- Set cash aside
- 5. Lower your living expenses
- Dividend per share (DPS)
- LLC sales taxes
- Our pick for: Fixed monthly payments
- Are these the best dividend stocks?
- Hilton
- Best for nationwide availability: Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Insurance
- 5. Dave: Best for repayment flexibility
- Cell phone insurance deductible
- Doing the math on copays, coinsurance and deductibles
- 12. Travel assistance
- Amica vs. competitors
- Compare the best bank accounts for students and kids
- K
- Charitable contributions 2023
- You might also like:
- Step 5: Submit your application and get funded
- New Hampshire
- Install dimmer switches
- How to finance central air installation
- How to have more taxes taken out of your paycheck
- What to know about Texas renters insurance
- 2024 state income tax rates and brackets
- 8. Negotiate the best price
- Business CD rates
- Credit union vs. online lender
- Are home equity loans a good idea?
- Typical entry-level salaries by occupation
- Should you choose an LLC or a sole proprietorship?
- 15. Create custom clothing
- Expenses
- Know your health insurance terms
- The best place to exchange currency at the end of your trip
- 6. Look for ways to lower your expenses
- 6. Sell your wares on Etsy
- How to use Alaska miles for an American flight to Hawaii
- How quickly could the IRS implement the child tax credit expansion?
- How do I get my business credit score?
- Pay with points and miles
- Amica vs. State Farm home insurance
- What are the best dividend stocks?
- What about Bitcoin mining?
- Customer support
- Other ways to sell clothes online
- When can't you take the standard deduction?
- Armed Forces Recreation Center resorts
- Rebook if you find a cheaper price
- Learn more
- Fleet fuel cards: benefits and drawbacks
- The bottom line
- 3. Use tax deductions
- The Amplifier Grant
- EVs come with an element of the unknown
- Our pick for: Cell phone and internet bill payments
- Family loan
- Upgrading to Main Plus
- Dividend yield
- Frequently asked questions about estimated tax payments
- Best insurance company for accident forgiveness: Geico
- Best life insurance company for coverage amounts: New York Life
- Best of the Blues: Highmark
- Prudence's policy:
- 13. Purchase protections
- Other renters insurance companies to consider
- Investor-friendly
- Risks to consider
- 8. Grow your financial well-being
- Summary of the best banks and credit unions of 2024
- 8. Emptying your savings
- Types of gas
- Part-year resident status rules
- Appendix: How the math works in our examples
- Use smart power strips
- Home equity loan
- Biotech stock options
- Best insurance company for accident forgiveness: Geico
- 14. Professional organizing
- Floods
- Trust Wallet: 4.3 out of 5 stars
- Consider using a retirement account
- 6. OfferUp
- If you’re shopping for your first points and miles credit card
- Empower Personal Dashboard, for tracking wealth and spending
- How to claim the child and dependent tax credit
- What hotel brands are part of IHG?
- Can you pay estimated taxes at any time?
- Other closed-loop cruises
- Consequences of a child tax credit error
- 2. Count your coins and bills
- Long-term care insurance deductible
- How much money can you make on YouTube?
- Link your Amazon account
- L
- The cost of veterinary care
- Will you owe capital gains taxes on your home sale?
- What is a no-credit-check loan?
- Paying with a private-party auto loan
- South Dakota
- How to know if you purchased refundable Hawaiian Airlines tickets or not
- 5. Enter a debt management plan
- How to have less taxes taken out of your paycheck
- 4. Contribute to a tax-advantaged account
- The bottom line
- Where to get it
- How to save on full coverage car insurance
- 16. Sell vintage clothing online
- Currency exchange: Frequently asked questions
- More about the card
- August
- Scenario: Doctor visits and an MRI
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card
- 14. Customer service without the wait
- Wheels and maneuverability
- American Family
- M1
- User experience
- Why did Signature Bank fail?
- Benefits
- Other renters insurance companies to consider
- 15. Photography
- Greenlight Prepaid Mastercard
- Other insurance companies to consider
- Hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes
- FedEx Small Business Grant Contest
- Deciding whether to buy an EV
- Our pick for Apple Pay
- USAA Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card
- Cheapest auto insurance for poor credit
- Get credit for the bills you pay
- Is Main Cabin Extra worth it on American Airlines?
- LLC tax forms and deadlines
- Higher premiums, more coverage
- 6. Sezzle
- When to use credit card points for American flights to Hawaii
- Pet insurance deductible
- Pay upfront
- Amica vs. Geico home insurance
- How much is my 2023 standard deduction?
- Be flexible with destination, airport and dates
- The synthetic long
- Are mobile wallets safe?
- Paying with a personal loan
- Tennessee
- Get credit for the bills you pay
- Past years' state tax rates
- Final thoughts on the different United economy fare classes
- Apple Card
- Our pick for: Flexible rewards and a bonus
- 9. Maximize trade-in value, if applicable
- Other ways to cover gender-affirming care costs
- Compare business CD rates: 12-month term
- Corporate bonds
- Resources for researching and comparing salaries
- 17. Begin niche blogging
- Where is the best place to exchange currency?
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- 7. Self-publish an e-book
- Important considerations when opening a Roth IRA
- What happens if I forget to pay my quarterly taxes?
- Medigap plan types
- 6. MoneyLion: Best for existing customers
- 3. Prep for grocery shopping
- If you want to go to Hawaii
- Our pick for: Varo users
- 9. Estate planning: Protect your financial well-being
- Reviews
- How to sell clothes online
- Sam's Club® Mastercard®
- How to avoid capital gains tax on home sales
- Country Financial: Best homeowners insurance for using an agent
- Military discount hotel options recapped
- If you’re considering booking a rental car with your Chase Freedom credit card
- Drawbacks
- Nonresident status rules
- Home equity line of credit
- How to use a W-4 to owe nothing on a tax return
- Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program
- Surgery grants
- MetaMask: 4.0 out of 5 stars
- Dividend payout ratio
- Choose the best IHG credit card offer for you
- Our pick for: An upgrade path
- State child tax credits
- Dollar-cost averaging
- More about the card
- M
- Our pick for: Sam’s Club memberships
- 1. Live in the house for at least two years
- Refinancing
- A regular IRA may be enough
- Paying by cash or check
- DTI isn't a full measure of affordability
- Texas
- Are Hawaiian refundable fares worth it?
- 16. Event space
- 5. Defer your bonus
- 4. GetYourRefund.org
- Next steps
- Should I choose a home equity loan, HELOC, or cash-out refinance?
- More reading for active investors and traders
- Bottom line: Is it worth claiming the child and dependent care tax credit?
- Lower premiums, higher out-of-pocket
- How do I find a currency exchange near me?
- If you want to cruise to the Bahamas
- Why Chase Ultimate Rewards® can be the best option
- Travel insurance deductible
- Price
- Stash
- After deciding
- Freshen up your merchandise
- 9. Applying for credit before the sale is final
- Fuel card vs. business gas credit card
- Wildfires
- Flexible spending accounts
- 7. Poshmark
- 18. Become an e-book writer
- How can I make paying quarterly taxes easier?
- Best life insurance company for permanent life insurance: Pacific Life
- September
- How to shop for Medicare Advantage plans
- Earn an audience, and earn more in the long run
- Scenario: Trip to the ER
- 2. See whether you qualify for an exception
- What’s happening with Silvergate Capital Corp.?
- Soft vs. hard credit inquiry
- Why are California gas prices so high?
- 17. Interior decorating
- 10. Make the purchase
- Are dividends taxed?
- Where can you exchange currency for free?
- What is the $500 credit for other dependents (ODC)?
- Book through another third-party service
- The bottom line
- Types of financial planning help
- Completing the purchase of a car from a private seller
- Washington
- Cash-out refinance
- Payment plan
- Practice good credit habits
- LLC tax tips for business owners
- 8. Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel
- Hardsided vs. softsided luggage weight
- Auto Club Group
- N
- Take clear photos
- Alternatives to pet insurance
- 2023 vs. 2024 standard deduction
- 3. Keep the receipts for your home improvements
- What happened to Credit Suisse?
- Practice good credit habits
- 3. Building a budget
- 18. Woodworking or furniture building
- What is credit card consolidation?
- What determines Texas renters insurance rates?
- How it works
- Electrum: 2.5 out of 5 stars
- Next steps
- 19. Start ghostwriting
- Step 5: Compare benefits
- 7. Zip
- Using American Express Membership Rewards points
- Child tax credit vs. child and dependent care credit
- Best insurance company for having few customer complaints: American Family
- 7. SoLo Funds: Best for peer-to-peer cash advances
- 4. Minimize restaurant spending
- Acorns
- California state tax credits
- If your DTI is high
- Best insurance company for having few customer complaints: American Family
- Walmart MoneyCard
- W-4 calculator
- Taxes on bonuses: The bottom line
- Small-business incubator programs
- 4. Money market funds
- Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card
- Other ways to make money
- The bottom line
- Complete financial plan and investment advice
- Self-funding
- No-credit-check loan example
- Wyoming
- Your location
- Additional tips: Compare and plan
- PocketGuard, for a simplified budgeting snapshot
- 20. Become a resume writer
- Our pick for: No security deposit, low annual fee
- October
- Write an honest description
- When to claim the standard deduction
- How taxes on real estate, rental, and investment sales work
- FHA vs. conventional loans: Summary
- Pay off debt
- An additional service fee to get a cash refund
- Personal loan
- 19. Graphic design
- How does credit card consolidation work?
- Where to get it
- Our pick for Venmo
- Investing
- Using Citi ThankYou Points
- 5. Optimize your stock portfolio
- If you want to pay later
- O
- Does your business need a fleet fuel card?
- California earned income tax credit (CalEITC)
- Your credit
- Venmo Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards™ Visa Signature® Card
- Cheapest car insurance for young drivers
- Don’t always choose the cheapest option
- 3 best cold wallets
- 21. Open a coworking space
- Best life insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- 5. Get discounts on entertainment
- Albert
- Specialized guidance and/or want to meet with an advisor face-to-face
- Conventional loans
- Are other banks are in trouble?
- 10. Shopping for a house before a mortgage
- Does the president control gas prices?
- 20. Clothing boutique
- What else to know about Form W-4
- Our pick for: Maximized value
- Address any lingering questions
- 9. Become an Instagram influencer
- The difference between American Airlines flights to Hawaii
- Price clothes to sell
- Financial assistance
- California young child tax credit (YCTC)
- Avoid taking on more debt
- 4. Saving money
- 1. Has the W-4 form changed?
- 5. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)
- USAA Rewards™ Visa® Signature Credit Card
- Check your credit scores and reports
- 8. Klover: Best for no-fee advances
- 6. Know when to sell stocks — and when not to
- Other Budget car rental tips
- Auto-Owners
- P
- Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
- Is there an over-55 home sale exemption?
- NJM: Best small regional home insurer
- Things to consider about loans with no credit check
- Check your credit scores and reports
- 21. Bed and breakfast
- Your claims history
- Our pick for: Worldwide acceptance
- Compare options
- 5. Mutual funds
- 22. Become an online coach
- 6. Map out major purchases
- November
- Traveler-friendly
- Portfolio management only
- Our pick for: Costco memberships
- FHA loans
- Should I take my money out of the bank?
- California child and dependent care tax credit
- Wait to apply
- Is consolidating credit card debt a good idea?
- Alternatives to startup business grants
- Prosper® Card
- Compare buy now, pay later apps
- Some Budget locations have free pickup service
- So, is pet insurance worth it?
- How does the Israel-Hamas war affect gas prices?
- 22. Food truck
- 2. What does it mean to be exempt from taxes?
- Your coverage limits
- How it works
- 23. Flip failing websites
- Our pick for: No security deposit, low annual fee, potentially high credit limit
- Monzo
- S
- California adoption cost tax credit
- Ledger: 5.0 out of 5 stars
- 10. Monetize your Twitch channel
- Should you use a buy now, pay later app?
- Best insurance company for financial strength: Auto-Owners
- Grow Credit Mastercard
- Why is financial planning important?
- Best insurance company for financial strength: Auto-Owners
- Can I still use my credit card after debt consolidation?
- Your deductible
- Where to get it
- Cheapest auto insurance for senior drivers
- Budget and plan
- 24. Become a web developer
- Summary: How to choose health insurance
- 7. Restrict online shopping
- Our pick for: Subscriptions
- Budget also rents other equipment
- Are we in a recession?
- 11. Underestimating the costs of homeownership
- California nonrefundable renters tax credit
- 23. Restaurant or cafe
- Low-fee alternatives to prepaid cards
- 6. Index funds
- Mortgages
- Best life insurance company for older applicants: AARP
- Teen-friendly
- Other policies
- Honeydue, for budgeting with a partner
- 25. Start a podcast
- Pros
- Pros and cons of loan apps
- December
- Farmers
- 24. Craft brewery
- 3. When should I review my W-4?
- 6. MilTax
- Our pick for Walmart Pay
- Trezor: 4 out of 5 stars
- Marriott
- Greenlight
- T
- How to shop for no-credit-check loans
- Your home’s features
- Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
- 26. Be a social media influencer
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 8. Delay purchases with the 30-day rule
- How to track your California state refund
- Our pick for: Average credit and rewards
- 11. Sell your photography
- Pros
- Budget offers rental car insurance
- Alternative options for covering a car repair
- USAA: Best homeowners insurance for military and veterans
- Are we headed for a depression?
- 25. Ice cream shop
- 4. Can I adjust my W-4 multiple times throughout the year?
- Your dog
- How it works
- Prime Visa
- Cheapest car insurance by state
- Cons
- U
- 12. Miscalculating repair and renovation costs
- SafePal: 3.8 out of 5 stars
- 27. Create online courses
- Best term life insurance companies of April 2024
- 9. Get creative with gifts
- Co-branded credit cards
- No-credit-check loan alternatives
- 26. Personal chef
- Where to get it
- Our pick for: Prime gaming
- Step
- Online loans
- 28. Become a marketing consultant
- Best insurance company for discounts: Amica
- Cons
- The Hanover
- California state sales tax
- Best insurance company for discounts: Amica
- 27. Landscape services
- Prepaid-like options from fintechs: Apple Cash and Cash App
- Texas Department of Insurance
- How to find the best term life insurance company
- Best whole life insurance companies of April 2024
- 7. Direct File
- Other contenders
- Methodology
- Budgeting resources from NerdWallet
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- How to make money from home
- Alternatives to buy now, pay later
- 10. Lower your car costs
- Migrant-friendly
- Co-signed or joint loans
- 28. Pet grooming
- Apple Cash: digital card
- 7. Exchange-traded funds
- 29. Develop an app
- Our pick for: Average credit and no annual fee
- Budget roadside assistance
- 5. Maximizing your credit cards
- Looking for more insurance in Texas?
- Look up the insurer’s financial strength
- 12. Become a dog walker with Rover or Wag
- Best no medical exam life insurance companies of April 2024
- Majority
- 5 things to know about California state tax
- 29. Florist
- How to get cheap car insurance
- Are cash advance apps payday lenders?
- 11. Reduce your gas usage
- Other home insurance companies to consider
- Secured loans
- How it works
- 30. Make a smart appliance
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- The bottom line
- Deferred interest offers
- Cash App debit card
- Personal loans
- How to choose the best life insurance company
- Our pick for: Those who are unbanked
- Nationwide
- 30. Massage therapist
- Research the insurer’s reputation for customer service
- Methodology to identify the best budget apps
- 31. Tap into virtual reality experiences
- Comun
- Erie: Most generous coverage
- Family loans
- 8. Stocks
- AvantCard Credit Card
- 13. Sell unused gift cards
- 1. Look at customer satisfaction scores
- Are apps like DailyPay and Payactiv cash advance apps?
- 12. Bundle cable and internet
- Best prepaid debit cards: Summary of fees and ATMs
- Where to get it
- Risks of getting cheap auto insurance
- Individual stocks
- 32. Make a niche dating site
- Our pick for: Limited credit
- Target Circle™ Credit Card
- 2. Consider financial strength
- Emerging
- Payment plans
- 31. Nutritionist
- What are prepaid debit cards?
- More about term life insurance
- 33. Develop a chatbot
- Best insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- 13. Switch your cell phone plan
- Best insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm
- 6. Borrowing money
- Our pick for: Target gaming purchases
- 3. Evaluate the policy options
- Alternatives to cash advance apps
- Bunq
- Credit union loans
- 32. Personal trainer or fitness instructor
- 34. Offer matchmaking skills
- 14. List your spare bedroom on Airbnb
- State Farm
- Dividend stocks
- Hyatt
- Capital Good Fund
- 35. Be a virtual assistant
- Student loans
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- 4. Get prices from a handful of companies
- 14. Reduce your electric bill
- 33. Beauty services
- Our pick for: Good credit
- Totem
- Prepaid debit cards vs. regular debit cards
- More about top-rated life insurance companies
- Nationwide: Best online experience
- 34. Life coach
- 36. Reinvent exercising
- More about top-rated life insurance companies
- 15. Lower your student loan payments
- How to make money offline
- Cred.ai Credit Card
- Frequently asked questions about prepaid cards
- 37. Create eco-friendly, health-friendly makeup and beauty products
- Best insurance company for military members: USAA
- Travelers
- Methodology
- Best insurance company for military members: USAA
- 9. Alternative investments
- 15. Sell your gently used clothes
- 16. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
- Our pick for: Spending guardrails
- 35. Tutor
- What is a prepaid debit card?
- 38. Open a food truck or restaurant pop-up
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Our pick for: Travel
- 36. Daycare provider
- 39. Start an organization business
- Taxes
- 17. Refinance your mortgage
- Neobanks we’ve reviewed
- What is a prepaid credit card?
- Capital One® Walmart Rewards™ Mastercard®
- Cash advance app star rating methodology
- Standard (nonbank) neobanks
- Our pick for: Walmart gaming purchases
- 40. Do interior design for young professionals
- Openly: Fewest consumer complaints
- 37. Senior care provider
- Where can you get a prepaid card?
- 10. Cryptocurrency
- 16. Trade in old phones, electronics for cash
- 18. Set savings goals
- Travel rewards
- How to compare renters insurance
- 38. Interpreter or translator
- How do you add money to a prepaid card?
- How to choose a startup idea
- Apple Card
- Full list of the best car insurance companies
- Neobanks that are online banks
- Full list of the best car insurance companies
- Our pick for: Instant gratification
- 39. Housecleaning
- Which prepaid card is best?
- 17. Get a babysitting gig
- The bottom line
- 19. Track spending
- 11. Real estate
- Best car insurance companies by state
- Digital wallets with banking services
- Best car insurance companies by state
- 7. Your credit score
- 40. Automotive repair
- 20. Pay off high-interest debt
- GO2bank Secured Credit Card
- 41. Handyman services
- PlayStation Visa Credit Card
- Venmo Credit Card
- Our pick for: A low security deposit
- The best renters insurance policy for five common scenarios
- Our pick for: PlayStation purchases
- 18. Rent out your car
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- 19. Sign up for TaskRabbit
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1. Delay your application
Social Security retirement benefits increase by roughly 5% to 7% each year that you delay between the earliest claiming age, 62, and your full retirement age, which is currently 66 and 2 months and rising to 67 for people born in 1960 and later.
The return you get increases if you can wait beyond your full retirement age. Delayed retirement credits boost your check by 8% for each year you hold off applying until age 70, when your benefit maxes out.
Pro tip: Most people are better off delaying, according to a large body of research that takes into account longer life spans, prevailing interest rates and survivors benefits. Many financial planners encourage their clients to tap other resources, such as retirement funds, if that allows them to put off applying.
2. Work longer
Social Security is based on a worker’s 35 highest-earning years. You may be able to boost your benefit by working longer if you’ll earn enough to replace one of your lower-paid years with a higher-paid one.
People who took time off to raise families or otherwise had breaks in their employment could find working longer to be especially helpful in increasing their benefit. (Note that if you start Social Security early, continuing to work could temporarily reduce your benefit.) Also, a woman’s income may be more likely than a man’s to increase later in life, increasing the potential payoff from continuing to work.
Pro Tip: If you start Social Security early, your benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above a certain limit. The limit is $22,320 in 2024. This earnings test disappears at your full retirement age, so it’s usually best to wait at least until then to apply.
3. Earn more
Another way to increase your future Social Security check is to max out your earnings as many years as you can. In 2024 the first $168,600 of earnings is subject to Social Security tax. If you max out in all 35 of your highest-earning years, you’ll qualify for the maximum Social Security benefit at your full retirement age. The maximum Social Security benefit at full retirement age is $3,822 per month in 2024.
Pro tip: Sometimes self-employed people will try to minimize the amount of their income that’s subject to payroll taxes, but that maneuver can come back to bite them when it’s time to apply for Social Security. Paying a bit more taxes in the short run could pay off in a lifetime stream of higher, inflation-adjusted income.
4. Consider your spouse
Some lower-earning spouses could get more from taking a spousal benefit than from taking their own retirement benefit. Spousal benefits can be as much as 50% of what the higher earner gets at his or her full retirement age. The amount is discounted if started early. Typically the higher-earning spouse needs to be receiving a retirement benefit for the other partner to get a spousal benefit. In the past, higher earners could “file and suspend” to let their own benefits grow, but that’s no longer an option.
When you apply, Social Security will compare your spousal benefit to your own retirement benefit and give you the larger of the two. In most cases, you won’t be able to switch from a spousal benefit to your own benefit later, even if your own benefit would be larger. (People born before Jan. 2, 1954, have the option of filing a “restricted application” for spousal benefits only and then switching to their own benefit later.)
Couples should also think about survivor benefits when making Social Security decisions. When one spouse dies, the survivor will start getting only one check — the larger of the two checks the couple was receiving. The drop in income from the check that’s lost can be substantial. Couples can help mitigate the damage by ensuring the check that remains is as large as possible. That typically requires having the higher earner put off the start of Social Security, preferably at least until full retirement age.
Pro tip: Coordinating benefits with a spouse can get complicated. Consider using a Social Security claiming calculator to explore your options. There’s a free one at the AARP site, or you can pay for a more sophisticated versions at Social Security Solutions ($20 and up) or Maximize My Social Security ($39 and up).
5. Investigate divorced spouse benefits
If you’re currently unmarried but a previous marriage lasted at least 10 years, you could qualify for spousal benefits based on your ex’s work record. The amount can be up to 50% of the worker’s benefit at his or her full retirement age. If you remarry, however, the divorced spouse benefit stops. You must be at least 62 to get spousal benefits.
If your ex has died and the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you could qualify for survivor benefits of up to 100% of your ex’s benefit. You can remarry at 60 or older (or 50 and older if disabled) and still receive divorced survivor benefits. Survivor and divorced survivor benefits can begin at age 60, or at age 50 if the survivor is disabled, or at any age if you’re caring for your ex’s child who is under 16 or disabled (and in that case, the 10-year marriage requirement is waived). People receiving survivor benefits can switch to their own benefit later if that’s larger, and vice versa.
Pro tip: Your ex must be at least 62 for you to receive a divorced spousal benefit, but does not need to be receiving his or her own benefit. (That’s different from regular spousal benefits, which typically require the primary worker to apply before the spouse can receive anything.) Survivor benefits are based on what your ex was receiving or would have received at full retirement age. (If your ex delayed starting benefits past full retirement age, the survivor benefit is increased by those delayed retirement credits.) If you start benefits before your own full retirement age, however, the amount you get will be reduced.
6. Add your minor child
If you’re receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, your offspring may be entitled to a check as well. An unmarried minor child can receive up to 50% of the primary worker’s retirement or disability benefit. This child benefit typically ends at 18, but can continue to age 19 if the child is still in high school. Child benefits are also available to those 18 and older if they are disabled and the disability began before the child turned age 22.
There is a “family maximum” that limits how much a family can collect based on one worker’s earnings record. The maximum is between 150% and 188% of the worker’s monthly benefit at full retirement age. If your total family benefits would exceed the cap, the worker would continue to receive an unreduced check but the dependents’ checks would be proportionately reduced.
Pro tip: Family benefits, including child and spousal benefits, are subject to Social Security’s earnings test and may be reduced or even eliminated if the primary worker starts benefits early but continues to work.
7. Suspend your benefit
If you started Social Security early and decided that was a mistake, you can suspend your benefit once you reach your full retirement age. That will allow your benefit to earn the delayed retirement credit that increases the amount you get by 8% each year you delay until age 70, when your benefit maxes out. You don't have to pay back the benefits you've received.
Suspending your benefit, however, also suspends the benefit of anyone else receiving checks based on your work history, such as a spouse or a minor child. The potential increase in your benefit may not make up for the loss of your dependents’ benefits.
Pro tip: Sometimes Social Security workers incorrectly tell people they cannot suspend benefits. If that happens to you, refer them to this page on the Social Security website.
8. Use a do-over
If you change your mind within a year of applying for Social Security, you can withdraw your application and pay back everything you’ve received in benefits. That will restart the clock on your benefits so you can receive the 7% to 8% annual increase from delaying your application. You can do this only once in your lifetime, and you can’t withdraw your application after 12 months.
Pro tip: Withdrawing your application is different from suspending your benefit. You can suspend your benefit orally or in writing any time after reaching full retirement age. To withdraw, you must fill out Social Security Form SSA-521 within a year of applying and pay an amount equal to all the benefits you and your family have received, including any Medicare premiums withheld from your checks.
Estimate your Social Security retirement benefits
Your actual benefit may be lower or higher than estimate made with this calculator, because it does not take into account your actual earnings history.
We assume you have earnings every year until you begin receiving Social Security benefits. If you had several years of noncovered employment or your earnings changed significantly from year to year, this calculator will overestimate or underestimate your benefit.