Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 30, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller When Do Most Americans Take Social Security? Dear Savvy Senior, What are the most popular ages that people start taking their Social Security retirement benefits? I’m turning 62 later this year and trying to decide when to start taking my benefits. Born in 64 Dear 64, You can sign up to begin your Social Security retirement benefits any time after age 62. However, your monthly payments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70. This adds up to around 6 to 8 percent higher payments every year you delay. To get a breakdown on exactly how much your claiming age affects your benefits, visit Social Security’s Retirement Age Calculator at SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html. This tool provides your full retirement age (FRA) – which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later – and shows how much your benefits will be reduced by taking early payments or increased by delaying them. In the meantime, here’s a rundown of when people start receiving retirement benefits (according to the most recent SSA statistical data), and how signing up at each age impacts your payout. Age 62: This is the earliest possible age you can sign up for Social Security. According to the SSA, in 2024, 23.3 percent of women and 22 percent of men signed up for Social Security at 62. But if you sign up at this age, you’ll get a 30 percent smaller Social Security payment if your FRA is 67. Age 63: Age 63 is one of the least popular options for choosing to start Social Security benefits – 6.2 percent of men and 6.4 percent of women began claiming their benefits at this age in 2024. A worker with a FRA of 67 will get a 25 percent pay cut by signing up at this age. Age 64: This is another relatively unpopular age to begin collecting Social Security benefits – just 6.5 percent of men and 7 percent of women started collecting at age 64. Social Security payments are reduced by 20 percent for those with an FRA of 67. Age 65: In 2024, 15.3 percent of men and women decided to collect Social Security at age 65, which is also the enrollment age for Medicare. By starting at this age, you’ll see your monthly payments reduced by 13.3 percent if your FRA is 67. Age 66: This is FRA for people born between 1943 and 1954, which has made this a very popular age to begin collecting. In 2024, 27 percent of men and 25.3 percent of women sign up for benefits at 66. But since your FRA is 67, you’ll get a 6.7 percent pay cut if you sign up here. Age 67: People born in 1960 or later will be able to claim unreduced Social Security payments starting at this age. In 2024, 14.5 percent of men and 13 percent of women did this. Age 68: In 2024, 12.5 percent of men and 12.3 percent of women delayed their Social Security benefits until age 68. Waiting one extra year beyond your FRA of 67 will increase your benefit by 8 percent. Age 69: In 2024, 14.5 percent of men and 13.2 percent of women claimed their retirement benefits at 69, which increased their benefits by 16 percent. Age 70 and older: Waiting to age 70 offers the biggest possible payout – a 24 percent increase over your FRA of 67. In 2024, 8.4 percent of women and 9.1 percent of men held out until this age. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. On Jan. 30, 1847, California’s Yerba Buena was renamed what including a saint’s name? 2. Where is the smallest bone in the body? 3. In 1954 the Indian VP presented what device to the Senate, hoping to inspire debate “with freedom from passion and prejudice”? 4. On Jan. 31, 1872, what American Western novelist of “Riders of the Purple Sage” fame was born in Zanesville, Ohio? 5. The Mother of the American Valentine, Esther Howland, founded a valentine company in what Mass. city with a name like a sauce name? 6. In 2027 the Tour de France cycling race will be in three countries on what island? 7. What in Norway was Longyear City (from American John Munro Longyear) until 1926? 8. Are rare-earth elements abundant? 9. On Feb. 1, 2013, The Shard opened; what is it? 10. What is taiga? 11. In 2026 what country hosted the off-road Dakar Rally, including in the Empty Quarter? 12. Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day; what is another word for groundhog? 13. How many presidents were born in Arkansas, California and Hawaii? 14. On Feb. 3, 1634, was the English masque “The Triumph of Peace”; what was a masque? 15. Why is an X thought to be used to mean a kiss? 16. In what comic opera would you find “When constabulary duty’s to be done, to be done / A policeman’s lot is not a happy one, happy one”? 17. On Feb. 4, 2004, what “book” was launched from a dormitory room? 18. What country has the world’s oldest writing sample: China, Egypt or Iraq? 19. In 2026, Formula One racing will include what new team with the name of a luxury car? 20. On Feb. 5, 1901, Edwin Prescott of Arlington, Mass., received a patent for improving on what called “Loop the Loop”? ANSWERS 1. San Francisco (named after Saint Francis — Yerba Buena means “good herb”) 2. Ear (the stapes near the eardrum) 3. An ivory gavel to replace a broken one 4. Zane Grey 5. Worcester (Worcestershire sauce) 6. Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) 7. Longyearbyen (world’s northernmost town); Boston-based Arctic Coal Company created it 8. According to Brittanica.com, they “are fairly abundant” but they are hard to extract 9. A pyramid-shaped London skyscraper 10. Subarctic forest next to tundra 11. Saudi Arabia 12. Woodchuck 13. One in each state (Clinton, Nixon and Obama, respectively) 14. A 16th–17th century courtly, musical entertainment staged with masked actors; “The Triumph of Peace” included a parade and mock combat 15. Illiterate Middle Ages people used an X (first letter of Christ in Greek) to sign; they kissed the X to mean a sworn oath 16. “The Pirates of Penzance” 17. Facebook 18. Iraq (Sumerian language) 19. “Cadillac” by General Motors 20. His roller coaster on Coney Island
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