If you're a financial advisor interested in receiving the privately issued NSSA (National Social Security Advisor ) certification, in-person courses are available in several cities for $995 or online from $695.

If you're looking for advice on Social Security benefits, it may be useful to find someone with the "National Social Security Advisor" certification.

Although the NSSA appears to be a privately issued certificate, it seems to convey some level of knowledge about Social Security benefits. Finding a financial advisor with NSSA certification may be something worth exploring.

This is a good article which outlines Social Security benefits for divorced people. The article refers to "divorced women", but it also applies to divorced men (especially if the woman had higher earnings).

Excerpt :

The law says a divorced woman, who was married to her ex-husband for a minimum of 10 years, is due essentially the same benefits as a woman who is currently married to her husband.

For the first time ever, Social Security spending for fiscal year 2017.

This included $791.1 billion being paid to the retired workers and survivors, $143 billion being paid out to those with disabilities, and $58.7 billion being paid to the Supplemental Security Income program.

Thirteen states that tax Social Security benefits :

Minnesota

North Dakota

Vermont

West Virginia

Montana

Colorado

New Mexico

Utah

Nebraska

Kansas

Missouri

Connecticut

Rhode Island

If you worked for a government agency, and paid no Social Security taxes, and you also worked in the private sector and are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, your Social Security may be reduced through the "Government Pension Offset".

Personal finance adviser Suze Orman says seniors should not start drawing Social Security retirement benefits until age 70.

Main reason is that your annual benefit at age 70 will be 76 percent higher than what you're eligible for at 62.

Excerpt :

Significant Social Security change coming in 2018 :

1. Two percent cost-of-living increase.

2. Maximum possible monthly payment increases $101 to $2,788.

3. Maximum income level for Social Security taxes increases $1,500 to $128.700.

4. Full retirement age (FRA) increases two months to 66 years and 4 months.

Medicare has an online Plan Finder to review other Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available where you live. There is a separate Medigap Policy Search tool.

https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx

https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/medigap-home.aspx

It's believed 143 million Social Security numbers were stolen by hackers in the Equifax data hack. To prevent a hacker from assuming your identity, you may want to get a login at SSA.gov.