One of the most important aspects of Social Security is that recipients are eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) every year. These annual increases are designed to help seniors and those receiving Social Security benefits keep up with inflation.

For recipients who began receiving benefits before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), payments are made on the third of each month. SSI payments are made on the first of each month.

Those who receive Social Security payments will see a bit of a change to their regularly scheduled payments for the first couple months of 2025. In particular, those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive their first payment of 2025 this Tuesday, the final day of 2024.

The payment schedule for social security recipients will look a bit different for the start of 2025 -- and beneficiaries will want to take note that they won't receive a payment for at least one month early this year.

Social Security is critical to many millions of retirees, keeping lots of them above the poverty line. Whether it keeps you solvent or just enhances your financial security in retirement, Social Security is likely to be an important source of retirement income.

Newsday talked with financial advisers for advice on when you should sign up to start receiving benefits, and an expert on the politics of Social Security explains why there are proposals to raise the retirement age beyond 67 — and why that hasn’t happened.

Social Security faces a potential funding shortfall by 2033-2035, with one key factor being the $168,000 payroll tax cap that hasn't kept pace with rising high-end incomes. Removing this cap could address 70% of the projected deficit,

The average Social Security benefit will reach $1,976 per month in January 2025. It could crack $2,000 per month for the first time as the year continues. While these larger check