Survey: Baby Boomers Will Claim Social Security at Age 62

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I did the math and I am better off taking my Social Security at 62.5 than I would be at 65, unless I live past 85, which all my grand parents did not! This is based on Social Security's own estimates.

Tom S. of NY 6:35PM September 07, 2012

The print shop I've worked for 29 years has mostly people in the 20s 30s and fortys then theres me. Lately they are putting more stress on me saying things about my age and mostly rude comments. I am 61 and a 10% disabled Vietnam Vet I just want to retire at 62 and Hopefully go the the VA for my health coverage. I'd rather be a part timer than put up with the harrasment every day.

Bob of KY 6:01PM February 20, 2012

I was notified a few months back I would recieve benifits at 62 , Four days from now , and i've heard nothing since, How do I go about finding out what I must do ?

RAY WHITE of WA 5:49PM February 10, 2010

I plan on drawing my social security at age 62. I really don't trust the goverment to NOT raise the age limit for early retirement. If you have a cushy job of sitting behind a desk all day, day in and day out, your body might hold up to full retirement. My husband is a plumber . He spends his days crawling underneath buildings all day. His knees are worn out. He can hardly walk most days. He will be 63 this year and plans on working until he can get on medicare.Why the goverment limits the amt. you can make a year and draw full retirement benefits is beyond me. As long as we keep on working we are contributing to SS. Lord knows the younger generation isn'nt going to work enough to pay in what we draw.

Sandra of NC 12:05PM January 30, 2010

I wanted to know if anyone can tell me if I MUST ask for Social Security ay Age 62 or can I continue getting my SSI/Disability each month. I don't want to sign up for Medicare till I must...

Kathy of SC 4:52PM October 14, 2009

04.15.09
Things are going downhill fast. Both my husband & I lost our jobs a year ago. Unemployment has helped but things are desparate. Thankfully we had to forsight to sell our house just weeks before the pink slips came. The little equity is gone and having to pay our own health insurance is devastating to our already bleak outlook.
I have Rhuemitoid Arthritis and we are in the gap years prior to Medicare. We need the promised national health coverage and it's got to be now. I must file for Social Security at 62 in the next few weeks. Subsidized housing units are all full. I don't think I can exist in a tent at this age with RA.
Soon the very little left in our 401K accounts will be drawn to cover expenses. So, the government can make a choice, Health Care for all or keep shoveling more tax money into elder care facilities. Seems to me that it's cheaper to offer the health care so us boomers stand a chance of remaining contributing members of society instead of leeches.

Lan of PA 2:19AM April 15, 2009

My husband died at age 62 and never received any of his social
security. know my healh is getting can I Receive his benefits

Mary Edna Williams of MI 3:14PM February 16, 2009

I agree with Ed at AAFR, however, what about the taxes????? If you are still working, would that not offset any interest (maybe 2-3% ) that you earn. I plan to work till 66. Please advise.

Karen of TX 9:10PM January 16, 2009

Skip, I must say you are misinformed. Social Security funds not paid out in benefits are invested in U.S. government bonds. In essence, the trust funds lend to money to the U.S. government and receive interest just like you would if you bought the bonds. Look it up on the website.
Ms. Zera, you, too, have been misinformed. Social Security retirement benefits are calculated on your 35 highest years, not on the last years you worked. Check with your local office if you need to confirm this. If you do not have earnings to cover 35 years, you would have zeros added and that could reduce you monthly check.

Richard Black of OK 3:09PM January 16, 2009

Here's a little known fact about taking early Social Security benefits that we at AAFR have been publicizing for some time.
You can "have your cake and eat it too" if you're willing to be very disciplined. Start taking your benefits at 62, but INVEST ALL THE MONEY YOU RECEIVE in super-safe investments like bank CDs. When you turn 65 (or even later), you can apply for, and get the higher benefits if you pay back all the benefits you've already received WITHOUT INTEREST. You get to keep the interest you earned on the money!
So if you're disciplined, go ahead and take the early benefits, and then sit back and wait til you're 65 or 67. Then look realistically at your life expectancy. If you're still healthy, pay back what you've gotten, keep the interest, and enjoy the higher monthly benefit. If you unfortunately are in poorer health, then stick with the reduced benefits and do with the money you've saved, and the interest you've earned on top of it, as you see fit.
For more info, check out:
http://www.aafr.org/when-should-you-start-taking-social-security-benefits/

Ed at AAFR of 7:24PM November 13, 2008