Curtis Jerry Smothers
Teacher . Editor . Poet . Writing Coach . Historian . Online Tutor

Social Security touches the lives of nearly every American. For many retirees it provides a steady and reliable source of income. For others, it supplements pensions, retirement accounts, or continued earnings. Understanding how Social Secuirty works can help you make smarter decisions about when to claim, how it fits with your other retirement resources, and how taxes may affect your benefits.

This page presents a series of short, easy-to-read articles that explain the essentials of Social Security. You'll learn how benefits are calculated, the best time to cliam, how working while receiving benefits can affect your payments, how spousal and other survivor benefits work, and what to know about taxes and Medicare. Whether you are just starting to plan or alrady receiving bernefits, these articles will help you get the most from this import part of your retirement plan.