6 Social Security Rules You Should Know by Heart

There's an old joke about Social Security I wanted to tell -- but then I realized no one will get it.

Social Security's long-term solvency may be the butt of a few jokes, but you can't question this: The federal retirement program is currently keeping nearly 15 million retirees out of poverty. And millions more rely on Social Security to supplement their income from savings and protect their lifestyle after leaving the workforce.

Regardless of whether your Social Security benefit will be a major or minor source of your retirement income, it's important to know the basics of the system. That'll help you maximize your benefit and avoid filing pitfalls that you'll regret later. Here are six Social Security rules to memorize right now.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com