Many readers said that while they didn’t absolutely need to start collecting Social Security early, they calculated that they would come out ahead by investing some or all of their checks in the stock market rather than waiting. I agree with Peggy Bishop that some people simply have to collect Social Security at the first opportunity. They don’t have enough savings to tide them over to age 70 without Social Security. Saying you should delay claiming Social Security when possible is not the same as saying you should keep working past the breaking point of body and soul. Readers brought up other cases where claiming early might be the right decision, although it’s impossible to generalize.

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Persons: it’s, Peggy Bishop, Teresa Ghilarducci, you’ve, you’ll, Readers, you’re Organizations: Social, Social Security