Fraud is skyrocketing during tax season: Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 (25% increase from 2023), with imposter scams targeting government agencies causing $789 million in losses — scammers send fake alerts claiming your benefits are "suspended," account has "unusual activity," or identity needs "verification" to create panic and steal personal information.

Two-step protection: delete then verify: Immediately delete any unsolicited text, email, or popup claiming to be from Social Security — then go directly to SSA.gov and sign into your My Social Security account to independently verify if there's actually an issue, avoiding the risk of clicking malware links or alerting scammers your contact is active.

Phone calls require caution: Don't hang up immediately since SSA does make legitimate calls, but never give personal information (Social Security number, birth date, employment history) during the call — instead, ask why they're calling and which department, then hang up and call the agency back using a verified phone number to confirm legitimacy.

Apply online first: Visit the SSA website, select your situation (first-time application, replacement, or stolen number), and apply online — your claim will either be processed entirely online or you'll be redirected to an in-person office appointment if documents are needed.

Mobile check-in available: If you need an in-person appointment, you can now use mobile check-in by scanning a QR code and turning on notifications — you'll be alerted when someone is ready to assist you, eliminating long waits at the office.

Fast delivery: Once your application is processed (online or in-person), you'll receive your new Social Security card within 10 business days — check the SSA website for the list of required documents if you need an in-person appointment.

Waiting until 70 pays 77% more than claiming at 62: Using the SSA's example, a worker with a full retirement age of 67 and a $2,000 monthly benefit would receive only $1,400 at age 62 (30% reduction), $2,000 at 67, or $2,480 at 70 — that's a $1,080 monthly difference between claiming early versus delaying, and the early reduction is permanent.

Couples should coordinate their claiming strategy: Jean Chatzky advises married couples to evaluate who should delay claiming based on expected longevity — optimizing the higher-earning spouse's benefit can strengthen the household's long-term financial picture, especially since the survivor will receive the higher of the two benefits.

New 401(k) features add retirement security: SECURE 2.0 introduced emergency savings accounts (up to $2,500 for short-term needs without tapping retirement funds) and in-plan annuities that convert savings into guaranteed monthly income for life — plus auto-escalation now automatically increases contributions by 1% annually unless you opt out, helping you save more without thinking about it.