The reason most retirees can't collect the maximum Social Security benefit is that their earnings aren't high enough to snag it. To get that payday, your earnings need to meet or exceed the Social Security wage cap for 35 years. And while that cap is adjusted annually, it currently sits at $176,100.

A local retiree says his Social Security benefits were suddenly suspended without warning — and with no explanation given when he reached out. He worries it may have to do with the place he was born,

Few things are more important to Americans' retirement than Social Security. Although Social Security will play a different role in people's retirement income, it's helpful to get a sense of average benefits to get a gist of what to possibly expect and begin putting together a broad financial plan.

While the standard age to begin receiving retirement benefits is 62, there are specific exceptions that allow for earlier access.

Claiming Social Security as soon as you turn 62 will net you the greatest number of checks over your lifetime. If you claim benefits for 20 years, that's 240 monthly payments, and some people get even more.

Deciding whether to claim Social Security benefits while still working is a multifaceted decision with significant financial implications. This choice requires careful consideration of both immediate and long-term effects,