Social Security at 70 Won't Automatically Work Out. Here's What You Need to Consider Before Delaying Your Claim
Filing later might boost your benefits monthly, but it's not necessarily your smartest move.
The article explains that claiming Social Security at age 70 does not automatically result in larger benefits throughout one's lifetime. While it provides a 24% increase in monthly payments compared to filing at full retirement age of 67, the total lifetime benefits may not be significantly higher. In fact, if someone expects to pass away before reaching an average lifespan, delaying Social Security past full retirement age may not be beneficial.
In scenarios where health issues or family history of early death are present, filing for benefits earlier could make sense. A simple example is provided where a person with a full retirement age benefit of $2,000 would receive $2,480 per month at 70, but if they died at 75, they would lose out on a substantial amount of lifetime benefits compared to filing at 67.
The article emphasizes that the decision to delay Social Security claims should be based on personal circumstances and careful consideration of the potential risks.
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