Mainstreet Financial Education · Retirement Income
Neither claiming age is the wrong answer. This is the raw lifetime math, before COLA, taxes, and survivor benefits shift the picture.
Carol, full-retirement-age benefit $2,000/mo
| If you live to | Claim 62 | Claim 65 | Claim 67 | Claim 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 75 | $218K | $208K | $192K | $149K |
| Age 80 | $302K | $312K | $312K | $298K |
| Age 85 | $386K | $416K | $432K | $446K |
| Age 90 | $470K | $520K | $552K | $595K |
Where the totals cross: claiming at 67 overtakes claiming at 62 near age 79. Claiming at 70 overtakes 62 near age 81. Figures are nominal dollars, before COLA.
The crossover near age 80 only matters if you reach it. Your health, your current income needs, and the survivor benefit for the higher earner in a couple move the answer more than this table does. The right age is a planning decision, not a math contest.
When you claim shapes income for the rest of your life.
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