Q: I am a 78-year-old recent widow. I got my own Social Security number when I was about 20. But since my husband and I ...

This number can provide a lot of perspective on time regarding Social Security.

For much of the year, more Social Security beneficiaries focus on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The COLA directly impacts retirees' monthly benefits, increasing payouts to counter inflation.

It was over 60 years ago when the phrase “Catch-22” became famous after Joseph Heller published his award-winning novel by ...