Lots of folks would probably be happy to work to 66 or 70, but corporations routinely discard their most experienced workers, and some folks struggle to make ti to 62, and hope their health hold out until they qualify for medicare.
I started collecting at age 64. I get less money than I would at age 70, but I did the math- it would take me 12 years to break even.
I won’t be around in 12 years.
My job was intensive high stress and I was faced with potential of having to do it 4 years longer to get the full retirement. I paid in the maximum SS for as long as I can remember. I chose early retirement and took the 25% hit.
It takes 12 years of getting SS for the extra money I got for the 4 years to balance out, so I’ve got two more years until SS is actually getting the benefit of that deal.
Paid cash for my house, no debt and my SS is more than enough for me.
I filed for SS at 67 and am still working a part time job!! Companies are having a really hard time finding help I am in Ca. and most companies are starting at $18.00 an hour, it used to be that Senior had to volunteer to stay active HOWEVER now companies are hiring seniors at far above minimum wage to work! Seniors are very dependable, they have GREAT personalities and LOVE talking with the customers!! Companies are filling in the gaps with part time seniors it is a WIN, WIN, situation for all!! On top of being paid $18.00 an hour my supplemental Medicare insurance through an employer is about 1/4 of what I was paying on the outside of employer based insurance!! I work 20 hours a week and I LOVE IT, I get out of the house it keeps me active, it keeps me socially active AND with inflation the way it is now the extra money is GREAT!!!!