I Don't Plan to Claim Social Security at 62, but This 1 Thing Could Change My Mind

Key Points I plan to claim Social Security at age 70 to maximize my household benefits. If my health took a turn for the worse, I'd consider signing up early. I might choose not to apply for benefits at all if I didn't need the cash to increase my family's survivor benefits. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Claiming Social Security at age 62 has never really appealed to me. Yes, you get more checks, but it permanently reduces your monthly benefit by 30%. My plan has always been to wait until I qualify for my largest possible checks at age 70. But that's not set in stone.