Should I retire at 62 or wait?

Waiting to claim your Social Security benefit will result in a higher benefit. For every year you delay your claim past your FRA, you get an 8% increase in your benefit. That could be at least a 24% higher monthly benefit if you delay claiming until age 70.


Why retiring at 62 is a good idea?

Your Social Security benefit is guaranteed to increase by 8% for each year of delayed claiming between your full retirement age and age 70. If you think you can beat that amount through other investments, you could receive more abundant financial rewards by taking Social Security early and investing the proceeds.

What are the disadvantages of retiring at 62?

Some Cons of Retiring Early
  • It could be bad for your health. ...
  • Your Social Security benefits will be smaller. ...
  • Your retirement savings will have to last longer. ...
  • You'll need to find health insurance. ...
  • You might get bored and miss working.


Is it better to retire at 62 or 63?

Monthly Social Security payments are reduced if you sign up at age 63, but by less than if you claim payments at age 62. A worker eligible for $1,000 monthly at age 66 would get $800 per month at age 63, a 20% pay cut. If your full retirement age is 67, you will get 25% less by signing up at age 63.

What is the downside to taking Social Security at 62?

The advantage of taking retirement benefits early is that you start to collect the money that you've been paying over to the government monthly since you started working. The downside to that, however, is that it causes a permanent reduction in your Social Security retirement benefit.


7 GOOD REASONS to File for Social Security Benefits at Age 62



Is it wise to collect Social Security at 62?

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

Why Smart People take Social Security at 62?

Assuming your full retirement age is 67, if you file for those retirement benefits at 62, you'll receive around 70% of your full retirement age benefit amount. If you file for disability and are awarded those benefits, the amount that you would receive would be 100% of your full retirement age benefit, even at 62.

What is the most beneficial age to retire?

Retiring at Age 65 or Earlier

An individual's retirement savings, health benefits, and social security commonly dictate the best time to stop working and vary by age.


What is the perfect age to retire?

The normal retirement age is typically 65 or 66 for most people; this is when you can begin drawing your full Social Security retirement benefit. It could make sense to retire earlier or later, however, depending on your financial situation, needs and goals.

What are the signs that you should retire?

Here is how to tell if you are ready to retire:
  • You are financially prepared.
  • You have eliminated debt.
  • You have a plan to cope with emergencies.
  • You have health insurance.
  • You have a social network.
  • You have something else to do.


Is it better to retire at 62 or 65?

If you claim Social Security at age 62, rather than wait until your full retirement age (FRA), you can expect a 30% reduction in monthly benefits. For every year you delay claiming Social Security past your FRA up to age 70, you get an 8% increase in your benefit.


Do most people retire at 62?

While the average retirement age is 61, most people can't collect their full Social Security benefits until age 67 (if you were born after 1960).

What is the average retirement pay at 62?

According to the SSA's 2021 Annual Statistical Supplement, the monthly benefit amount for retired workers claiming benefits at age 62 earning the average wage was $1,480 per month for the worker alone.

Can I retire at 62 and still work full time?

You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. However, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full benefits. If you are younger than full retirement age and earn more than the yearly earnings limit, we may reduce your benefit amount.


What should I do with my life at 62?

Whether you want to explore new subjects or expand knowledge in old interests, make it a goal to learn something new everyday.
  • Attend college courses.
  • Tour an arboretum.
  • Go to a Town Hall meeting.
  • Mentor or teach classes.
  • Join a book club.
  • Visit an astronomical observatory.


Do you live longer if you retire early?

The finding echoes a few others, the New York Times reports: “An analysis in the United States found about seven years of retirement can be as good for health as reducing the chance of getting a serious disease (like diabetes or heart conditions) by 20 percent.

How do you know when it's time to retire mentally?

If you're feeling unmotivated, apathetic, or resentful, you might be ready to move on. This can be difficult to navigate if you felt like your identity was wrapped up in your work. After years of focusing on your career, the thought of retirement might trigger an identity crisis.


What are the best reasons to retire?

7 Reasons You Should Retire Already
  • You're disinterested in the job. ...
  • Your health is suffering. ...
  • You're burned out. ...
  • Technology is causing you stress. ...
  • You have no debt. ...
  • You want to pursue a second act.


What is the average monthly Social Security check at age 62?

The amount you are entitled to is modified by other factors, most crucially the age at which you claim benefits. For reference, the average Social Security retirement benefit in 2023 is an estimated $1,827 a month.

How much do most retirees have saved?

Average retirement savings of American households in 2022: $65,000. The median retirement savings for American households have grown every three years since 1989 with few exceptions. The figures below are based on the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances, the most recent set of data available.


What is the Social Security 5 year rule?

You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years. If you also get a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (e.g., a civil service or teacher's pension), your Social Security benefit might be reduced.

What percentage of people draw Social Security at 62?

According to a report by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, more Americans begin collecting Social Security at age 62 than any other age. 42% of men and 48% of women claim at 62, and well over half claim their retirement benefits before reaching full retirement age.

What is the most Social Security pays at 62?

The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2022, your maximum benefit would be $3,345. However, if you retire at age 62 in 2022, your maximum benefit would be $2,364.


Is it better to take Social Security at 62 or 70?

If you wait until age 70 to start your benefits, your benefit amount will be higher because you will receive delayed retirement credits for each month you delay filing for benefits. There is no additional benefit increase after you reach age 70, even if you continue to delay starting benefits.

Can I get Medicare at age 62?

Generally speaking, no. You can only enroll in Medicare at age 62 if you meet one of these criteria: You have been on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least two years. You are on SSDI because you suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.