A 54-year-old woman has been charged with fraud for impersonating her mother and collecting her social security benefits for more than 25 years.

The average Social Security payment will rise by more than $50 per month starting in January, thanks to the federal government’s 3.2% annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. A 3.2% increase in the average Social Security check—about $1,

The federal government taxes the Social Security benefits of some retirees if their provisional income exceeds thresholds for their marital status.

You can, however, choose to claim as early as 62. If you do so, however, you'll be penalized. Each month before your FRA incurs a penalty of 5/9 of 1% (for the first 36 months prior to turning 67) and 5/12 of 1% (for the next 24 months). All told, you could lose as much as 30% of your intended PIA.