If I Could Tell All Retirees 1 Thing About Social Security, I'd Say to Do This Before You Claim Benefits

Be sure you know what to expect.

Social Security turns 90 this year, and there's a lot to celebrate about it: "Today, almost seven in 10 Americans (69%) are expecting Social Security as a source of retirement income, and 32% expect that it will be their primary source of income," according to the Social Security Turns 90: The Cornerstone of Retirement Income report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) and the Transamerica Institute.

But it's not all butterflies and rainbows with Social Security these days, as the vital program is facing several major challenges. Thus, if I could tell retirees one thing about Social Security, I'd tell them to do this before claiming their benefits: Learn how much you can expect to receive -- and plan accordingly.

How much inco