10/21/2026
When should you claim Social Security? It's one of the most important and debated retirement decisions.
The truth is that there is no one answer. Age matters, but it isn't the only consideration.
Before deciding, ask yourself:
✓ How long do I plan to continue working?
✓ What other retirement income will I have?
✓ How could claiming affect my taxes?
✓ What does my spouse's benefit look like?
✓ How does Social Security fit into my withdrawal strategy?
The goal isn't simply to pick a claiming age. It's to understand how that decision fits into the rest of your retirement plan.