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What is the break-even age for delaying Social Security from 67 to 70?

Each year you delay past full retirement age up to 70 adds 8% in delayed retirement credits, per the Social Security Administration, so waiting from 67 to 70 raises your benefit by about 24%. The trade-off is three years of skipped checks. The break-even age, where the larger delayed benefit catches up to the total you'd have collected by claiming earlier, typically lands in your low-to-mid 80s. If you expect to live past that, or want to maximize a survivor benefit for a spouse, delaying usually wins. If your health or family longevity is poor, claiming earlier may make more sense.

See your personal break-even at wealthserene.com/tools/social-security-optimizer.

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Educational disclaimer. Everything on WealthSerene.com is educational and is not investment advice. Projections and calculations are illustrative; actual results depend on market conditions, your situation and factors outside this tool’s scope. For a decision specific to your situation, consult a qualified financial professional. View full disclosures