A fuller guide to this term is on the way. In the meantime, the related terms below explain the ideas around it.
Related MoneyPedia terms
- Social SecurityA federal program that pays monthly income to retirees, funded by payroll taxes collected during your working years.
- Survivor BenefitA Social Security payment a widow, widower, or dependent can receive based on a deceased worker's earnings record.
- Full Retirement AgeThe age at which you can collect your complete Social Security benefit without any reduction for claiming early.
- Delayed Retirement CreditsExtra amounts added to your Social Security benefit for each month you wait to claim past your full retirement age.
- Social Security CreditsUnits you earn by working and paying payroll taxes, and you generally need forty of them to qualify for benefits.
- Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)A yearly increase to benefits like Social Security or pensions that helps your income keep pace with inflation.
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Plain-English education — not personalized legal, tax, or investment advice.