If you have at least 35 years of earnings at or above the threshold, you may be in line for the maximum possible benefit in retirement. But there's still a big difference between claiming as soon as possible at age 62 and waiting until full retirement or age 70.

The nation’s key program for retiree benefits continues to see financing shortfalls. Unless Congress acts, those drops could lead to payment cuts in eight years.

Social Security will be unable to pay full retirement benefits by 2034, one year earlier than previously projected, according to