Importantly, the average Social Security benefit tends to increase over time because of inflation and changes in average wages. For instance, the average monthly retired-worker benefit at age 70 is ...

One of the most important things to know about your Social Security benefits is that the longer you wait to start collecting them (up to age 70), the bigger they'll become. Theref ...

Claiming Social Security at 62 might reduce your benefits on a monthly basis. But an early filing won't automatically ...

What's the most popular age to file for Social Security retirement benefits? It's 62 -- by far. Many Americans are ready to ...

One of the most important retirement planning decisions you'll make in your golden years is when to apply for Social Security. The most popular age to claim retirement benefits, by far, is 62, the ...

When making a case for claiming benefits at 62, I like to give perspective by showing people's break-even age. In Social Security, your break-even age is when the total lifetime benefits from ...

Claiming Social Security at 62 means subjecting yourself to the maximum reduction in benefits you can face. If your FRA is 66, filing at 62 will constitute a 25% hit to your benefits.

Fewer people are claiming Social Security benefits at age 62. Better health and the elimination of the earnings test after 65 have lowered barriers to working longer.

In an example provided by the Social Security Administration, a typical American who claims Social Security at 62 could claim a monthly check worth $1,400. By age 70, the benefit rises to $2,480.

For the average beneficiary right now, the difference between claiming when you're 62 versus claiming at the age of 70 is over $1,000 per month. That's no small amount for most households.

You can start claiming Social Security at age 62, but people born in 1960 or later will reach full retirement age — when they can receive their full benefit — at age 67.

For the average beneficiary right now, the difference between claiming when you're 62 versus claiming at the age of 70 is over $1,000 per month. That's no small amount for most households.