Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026 1. On Aug. 28, 1922, in NYC, was the first broadcast radio commercial — for apartments in what borough named for a royal? 2. What English cheese is named after a village in a county not licensed to make it? 3. What sport has a technique called herringbone? 4. How are bodhran, bongos and snare similar? 5. August 29 is National Chop Suey Day; where was the dish invented? 6. Where would you have found Barbary, Gold and Ivory? 7. Historically, what kind of dog has been a fi rehouse dog? 8. What Essex County elector/poet wrote “The Poor Voter on Election Day” (1852)? 9. August 30 is National Beach Day; what is the largest pleasure beach: Atlantic City, Coney Island or Virginia Beach? 10. What kind of footwear has been made with rope made of esparto grass? 11. What sport has a shelter that is also the name of a boat? 12. On Aug. 31, 1837, who (buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery) gave his “The American Scholar” speech at Harvard College? 13. How are underwater swimming, swimming obstacle race and plain high diving similar? 14. What was the recent “Squidpocalypse of ’26” (posted by police!) in Narragansett, R.I.? 15. On Sept. 1, 1897, in what city was North America’s oldest subway tunnel opened? 16. What state is the Beehive State? 17. On Sept. 2, 1870, in Texas, Samuel Augustus Maverick died — the namesake of what? 18. In what 1952 children’s novel are the characters Charlotte, Fern and Wilbur? 19. Recently, Richard Thoday, 62, achieved a record for riding 236 miles on what 19th -century bicycle without dismounting? 20. On Sept. 3, 1881, Lorenzo Delmonico died; when did Delmonico’s become the fi rst restaurant to let women dine without men: 1868, 1899 or 1921? Answers With Social Security Uncertainty, Should You Claim Benefits Early? Dear Savvy Senior, I turn 62 early next year and plan to retire soon after. Most advice says I should wait to claim Social Security because my monthly benefi t will be higher. But with all the recent news about Social Security’s fi nancial problems, I’m wondering if taking benefi ts early might be the safer choice. Is there ever a good reason to claim at 62? --Ready to Retire Dear Ready, You’re defi nitely not alone in asking this. The latest Social Security Trustees Report projects the retirement trust fund could be depleted around 2032 if Congress doesn’t act. If that happens, Social Security would still collect payroll taxes and pay benefi ts, but retirees could face an across-the-board cut of about 22 percent. Before you rush to fi le, keep things in perspective. Most experts still expect Congress to step in, as it has before, to strengthen Social Security. And even if lawmakers don’t act, waiting would still produce a higher monthly benefit because any across-theboard benefi t cut would apply to everyone. While claiming at 62 means collecting benefi ts sooner, it also permanently locks in a smaller check. That said, there are several situations where claiming Social Security at 62 can make good fi nancial sense. How claiming age affect your benefits You can start Social Security at 62, but doing so permanently reduces your monthly benefi t by about 30 percent compared with waiting until full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later). Delaying until 70 increases your benefi t by about 24 percent. For example, a $2,000 monthly benefi t at full retirement age would drop to about $1,400 at 62, or rise to roughly $2,480 if you wait until 70. When claiming early makes sense For some retirees, claiming at 62 is a practical move. If you’ve stopped working and need income for basic expenses, Social Security can provide a steady check right away. It can also serve as a bridge if you retire early or lose a job in your early 60s while delaying withdrawals from retirement accounts or a pension. Some retirees also claim Social Security early to reduce withdrawals from their IRA or 401(k) during market downturns. The tradeoff is a permanently reduced lifetime benefi t. For married couples, timing can be coordinated as part of a broader strategy. One spouse may claim early to bring in income while the other delays to boost their future or survivor benefi t. Health is another big factor. Delaying only pays off if you live long enough to collect those higher monthly checks. The break-even point between claiming at 62 and full retirement age is around age 78 or 79. If you’re still working, be careful here too. Before full retirement age, earnings above Social Security’s annual limit can temporarily reduce your benefi t, and claiming early locks in that lower amount for life. Why delaying helps For many retirees, waiting means a larger guaranteed monthly benefi t for life and often a higher lifetime payout if you live into your late 70s or beyond. It can also provide stronger protection against outliving savings. For couples, delaying the higher earner’s benefi t can increase the survivor benefit, which may help provide more fi nancial security for a surviving spouse. Before deciding, it’s smart to review your numbers. You can create a free account at SSA. gov/myaccount to check your earnings record and estimate benefi ts at diff erent ages. Tools like OpenSocialSecurity.com or MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com (a paid tool with a $49 fee) can also help you compare claiming strategies. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. For most people, waiting still makes the most sense. But if you need income, have health concerns or are coordinating benefi ts with a spouse, claiming at 62 may be the better choice. The key is to base your decision on your own circumstances — not fear about Social Security’s future. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5, Norman, OK 7070. 1. Queens (namesake Portuguese Catarina de Bragan?a, who became Queen of England) 2. Stilton (Three counties can make the cheese; in the 1700s a Stilton innkeeper visited a county that made it and started importing it.) 3. Cross-country skiing (creating a “V” shape to go uphill) 4. Types of drums (originally Irish, Afro-Cuban and European, respectively) 5. There are different myths about its origin involving places in China and the USA. 6. Africa (former names of African coasts) 7. Dalmatian 8. John Greenleaf Whittier 9. Virginia Beach, according to Guinness World Records 10. Espadrilles, which originated in the Pyrenees 11. Baseball (dugout — dugout canoe) 12. Ralph Waldo Emerson of Concord, Mass. 13. Discontinued Olympics swimming competitions 14. A tractor-trailer with tons of squid rolled over, creating a hot mess/stench on a roadway 15. Boston (Tremont Street Subway, including Park Street, Scollay Square and Haymarket) 16. Utah (The beehive symbol comes from the Book of Mormon.) 17. The term “maverick” meaning unbranded cattle 18. “Charlotte’s Web” 19. Penny-farthing (at England’s Reading Velodrome) 20. 1868 (Immigrants nephew Lorenzo and his two uncles ran the restaurant.)
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