Pros and Cons of Starting Social Security at 62
Starting Social Security at 62 means accepting a permanent 30% reduction in your monthly benefit — and for many people, that tradeoff is absolutely worth...
Month March 2026
Why Most People Don’t Wait Until Full Retirement Age
Most people don't wait until full retirement age to claim Social Security because they either need the money now, fear the program won't be there later,...
What Percentage of Retirees Wait Until Age 70?
Only about 10 percent of Americans wait until age 70 to claim Social Security benefits. That figure comes from the 2023 Schroders U.S.
How Claiming Age Affects Your Monthly Pension
The age you choose to start collecting Social Security can permanently change your monthly benefit by as much as 54 percent, and that gap compounds over a...
Early Retirement Statistics in the United States
Early retirement in the United States is more common than most people realize — and less voluntary than most people assume.
What Age Groups Claim the Most Retirement Benefits?
The age group that claims the most retirement benefits in any single year is age 62 — it remains the most popular initial claiming age, with over 20% of...
Are More People Delaying Social Security Benefits?
No — more people are not delaying Social Security benefits. In fact, the opposite is happening.
Trends in Retirement Age Over the Last 20 Years
Over the last two decades, the average retirement age in the United States has climbed steadily, rising from roughly 57 in the early 1990s to...
Age 62 vs 67 vs 70: Which Is Most Common?
For anyone born in 1960 or later, full retirement age (67) has become the single most popular age to claim Social Security — and it is not particularly...
Social Security Claiming Ages: A Complete Breakdown
Three ages matter more than any others when it comes to Social Security: 62, 67, and 70. At 62, you can start collecting benefits early but face a...