Social Security Guides
- Feb 2, 2026
The New Senior Tax Deduction: What It Means for Social Security Recipients
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act created a new $4,000-$6,000 tax deduction for seniors 65+. Learn who qualifies, income phase-outs, how it interacts with Social Security benefit taxation, and planning strategies for 2025-2028.
- Jan 26, 2026
Working While Receiving Social Security: The Earnings Test Explained
Can you work while collecting Social Security? Learn about the earnings test, 2025 and 2026 income limits, how benefits are reduced if you earn too much, and why withheld benefits are returned to you at full retirement age.
- Jan 21, 2026
Social Security Wage Indexing: How Your Earnings Are Adjusted
Learn how Social Security uses wage indexing to adjust your earnings for inflation. Understand indexing factors, the AWI formula, and why your benefit is shown in today's dollars.
- Jan 21, 2026
How Inflation Affects Your Social Security Benefits: AWI and COLA Explained
Discover how Social Security protects your benefits from inflation through wage indexing (AWI) during your working years and Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) after retirement.
- Jan 19, 2026
Social Security Survivor Benefits
Learn about Social Security survivor benefits for widows, widowers, and children. Understand eligibility at age 60, benefit amounts up to 100% of your spouse's benefit, and strategic claiming options.
- Jan 18, 2026
Social Security Benefits for Divorced Spouses
Can you collect Social Security from your ex-spouse? Learn the divorced spouse benefit rules, including the 10-year marriage requirement, how much you can receive (up to 50% of your ex's benefit), and whether your ex needs to know or consent.
- Jan 17, 2026
Normal Retirement Age (NRA)
Learn about Normal Retirement Age (NRA), also called Full Retirement Age (FRA), how it varies by birth year from 65 to 67, and why it matters for calculating your Social Security benefits. Understand how filing before or after NRA affects your monthly payment.
- Jan 16, 2026
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
For 42 years, the Windfall Elimination Provision reduced Social Security benefits for teachers, firefighters, and other public servants. Learn what WEP was, who it affected, and why it no longer applies after the Social Security Fairness Act of 2025.
- Jan 14, 2026
Privacy & Security
SSA.tools is designed with privacy as a core principle. Learn how your Social Security earnings data never leaves your computer. All calculations happen entirely in your browser with no server storage.
- Dec 20, 2025
Third-Party Integrations
Learn about third-party tools that integrate with SSA.tools to provide enhanced retirement planning capabilities. Discover how to connect your Social Security data with other financial planning platforms.
- Oct 7, 2025
Sharing Social Security Scenarios with URL Parameters
Learn how to use URL parameters to link directly to the SSA.tools calculator with preloaded scenarios. Perfect for financial advisors, educators, or sharing examples with family and friends. Create shareable links with specific Primary Insurance Amounts and birthdates.
- Sep 30, 2025
How Government Shutdowns Affect Social Security
Government shutdowns never stop Social Security payments, but they severely disrupt services. Learn what continues, what stops, and how to protect yourself during funding gaps. Understand the current shutdown threat and prepare for potential service disruptions.
- Aug 8, 2025
Mortality Tables and Health Adjustments
How SSA cohort life tables are used in benefit strategy calculations, how death probabilities are derived, gender blending, and how the health multiplier adjusts mortality estimates for your personal situation.
- Sep 19, 2025
Averaged Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)
Understanding how Social Security calculates your Averaged Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and its impact on your benefits. Learn about the three-step process, common misconceptions, and strategies to maximize your AIME.
- Sep 19, 2025
Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)
Learn how Social Security calculates your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) using bendpoints, the implications of earning more money late in your career, and how PIA forms the foundation of all Social Security benefits.
- Jun 15, 2025
How much Social Security will I get based on my income?
A series of guides estimating your Social Security benefits based on different annual income levels.
- Apr 29, 2025
Navigating Social Security During Administrative Changes
If you've tried to access Social Security services recently, you may have encountered longer wait times, website outages, or difficulty reaching representatives. These challenges are not coincidental but stem from significant administrative changes implemented by the Trump administration in 2025.
- Feb 26, 2023
Social Security Work Credits
Social Security work credits determine your eligibility for benefits. This guide explains how these credits are earned throughout your working life and the number required to qualify for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
- Sep 12, 2023
Possible causes of Parsing Errors
SSA.tools relies on accurate parsing of your earnings record from the Social Security Administration's website. If your earnings data isn't loading correctly, this guide identifies common reasons for parsing errors and provides troubleshooting tips to help you resolve them.
- Sep 6, 2023
Deep look at Spousal Benefits and Filing Dates
Spousal Benefits are sometimes commonly misunderstood to be equal to half of the other spouse's benefit. This guide takes a deep dive into how spousal benefits are calculated and how different filing dates can affect the final benefit calculation in confusing ways.
- Aug 18, 2023
Navigate the Filing Date Chart
The SSA.tools calculator features a detailed chart illustrating how different Social Security filing dates impact your benefit amount. This guide demystifies the chart, helping you interpret its data to make informed decisions about when to claim your benefits.
- Aug 11, 2023
Will Social Security Run Out?
And what happens if it does? Learn more about the Social Security Trust Fund, how it's slowly running out, and how what happens next could affect your benefits.
- Apr 29, 2023
Bump in delayed benefits after January
If you delay claiming Social Security benefits past your Normal Retirement Age, you earn delayed retirement credits. This guide explains a specific nuance: a small portion of these credits may be delayed until the January following the year you become eligible, impacting your initial payments.
- Dec 4, 2022
Federal Taxation of Social Security Benefits
A Comprehensive Guide to Calculating the Taxability of Social Security Benefits Based on AGI.
- Jun 26, 2022
International Agreements
Working abroad can impact your Social Security benefits. This guide explains how international agreements, known as Totalization Agreements, coordinate Social Security coverage and benefits between the U.S. and other countries, helping you understand your eligibility.
- Jun 5, 2022
Rules for those born on the 1st or 2nd of the month
Social Security rules can sometimes have surprising details. This guide explains a specific regulation that affects individuals born on the 1st or 2nd day of the month, potentially impacting their eligibility for benefits or the timing of their payments.
- Dec 1, 2020
The effect of AWI declining in 2020 due to Covid
The Average Wage Index (AWI) plays a crucial role in calculating Social Security benefits. This guide examines how the unexpected decline in AWI during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic specifically impacts the lifetime benefits of individuals born in 1960.
- Nov 28, 2020
Earnings Caps
Social Security applies an annual earnings cap, meaning income above a certain threshold is not subject to Social Security taxes and does not count towards your benefit calculation. This guide explains how these earnings caps work, their historical changes, and their impact on your Social Security benefits.
- Aug 3, 2019
Maximum Benefits
Curious about the highest possible Social Security benefit? This guide explains the factors that determine the maximum monthly payment, including your earnings history and the age at which you claim benefits, providing insight into the upper limits of Social Security.