Think You'll Claim Social Security at 62? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions First.

Choosing when to claim Social Security can materially change a retiree’s monthly income. Benefits start as early as age 62, but recipients who file at “full retirement age” get checks without a reduction—full retirement age is 67 for people born in 1960 or later. Claimants can also delay benefits past full retirement age; for each year waited until age 70, monthly payments increase by 8%. The article says claiming at 62 is not automatically a bad move, but urges readers to evaluate their needs. It highlights three questions: required annual income, available non–Social Security income, and whether they expect to live longer or shorter than average.