‘It’s heartbreaking’: My brother claimed Social Security at 70. He died from cancer after one payment. Why wait to claim?

A person whose brother claimed Social Security at age 70 and died shortly after receiving one payment expressed skepticism about recommendations to delay benefit claims. The Social Security Administration encourages workers to wait until age 70 to receive larger monthly payments, as the benefit amount increases by approximately 8% per year between ages 62 and 70. The timing of when to claim benefits depends on individual health, life expectancy, and financial circumstances.

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