With around 10 years to go before I retire, it's too early to make a firm decision on when to start taking my Social Security, but it's not too early to think about it. And research.
This link takes you to the US government social security site. You can find out what you will make at different ages.
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmPPYBRCgARIsALOziAO7iymCvI5lQ5c_ES4yhglIpgtzJwfumqC7L4isXG-fOu3Af3qHCOoaAv8kEALw_wcB
This is a good article from Money.
http://time.com/money/5279549/best-age-social-security/?utm_source=time.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-brief&utm_content=2018061013pm&xid=newsletter-brief&eminfo=%7b%22EMAIL%22%3a%22D7sgtkV3c6F7Mf4O5NYcEA%3d%3d%22%2c%22BRAND%22%3a%22TD%22%2c%22CONTENT%22%3a%22Newsletter%22%2c%22UID%22%3a%22TD_TBR_AFA5B3D0-55D0-4514-8FE8-C7C2285EC075%22%2c%22SUBID%22%3a%2224126250%22%2c%22JOBID%22%3a%22769803%22%2c%22NEWSLETTER%22%3a%22THE_BRIEF%22%2c%22ZIP%22%3a%22%22%2c%22COUNTRY%22%3a%22USA%22%7d
If you search you will find a plethora of articles on the subject. It's a little like gambling. Waiting will get you a bigger monthly check but will you live long enough to make up for the years you didn't take it? Will you make it to the "break even" point and beyond?
It's a good time to think about your health. As far as I can see, it goes hand in hand. If you are not super healthy, are you willing to aggressively do what is needed to keep yourself from falling apart?
I have a tendency toward high cholesterol and I have osteopenia. So I've changed my diet drastically and added supplements. I've joined a couple of Facebook groups centered on these issues because my doctor was useless. And I've changed doctors.
Other than those issues, I'm very healthy and have exercised regularly for quite a few years. My mother is in her mid-late 80's and going strong. So I fully expect to live a long life.
While I'm hoping to retire by 67, I would like to wait until 70 to start taking SS. I suppose it will all depend on my financial situation at the time but I'm tentatively optimistic that I will be able to do that.
