Did you know that claiming Social Security at 62 instead of 70 could mean locking in a permanent 30% cut to your monthly benefits for life? In this episode, Jean sits down with Marcia Mantell, founder of Mantell Retirement Consulting and author of Social Security: Lightly Toasted, Not Burnt, to talk about what's really going on with Social Security's solvency, why Congress will almost certainly act before the fund runs dry, and how to make the best claiming decision for you. In this episode: The truth behind the "benefit cuts are coming" headlines, and what they get wrong Why the 2032 trust fund deadline isn't the catastrophe it sounds like What "popcorn careers" are doing to women's Social Security benefits The divorced spouse rules that could mean hundreds of extra dollars a month Survivor benefits: what every married woman needs to plan for now The real cost of claiming early Create your my Social Security account: ssa.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices