And I figured like you did, that it would take years to recoup the foregone money I passed on at an earlier age and maybe impossible to ever catch up.
The government's run the numbers. They offer you a little more per month if you'll "wait", knowing all along that they will likely have to pay out less in total overall benefits since more people will die at an exponentially faster rate the older their age group gets. They don't have to pay anything if the recipient is dead.
I did all the calculations and rationale from every angle and they all pointed towards, take the money now, either before you can't because you die or you can't because the government has run out of money and/or has re-written the rules.
But take the money while you can and can spend it while you still can.
I waited until my full retirement age but looking back on it I should have taken it at 62.
At least this way I can work/earn all I want with no penalty on my SS benefit.