Yeah, you can totally start getting social security at 62, even though the retirement age for full benefits is now 67 if you were born in 1960 or later. But here's the catch: you're gonna lose a big chunk of that money each month. Like, in 2025, if your full benefit at 67 was supposed to be $1,000, you'd only get about $700 if you claimed at 62. That is around 30 percent less! Sounds brutal, right?

I have an aunt who grabbed her benefits at 62 because she just hated her job, and yeah, she says she sometimes regrets it because the checks are smaller forever. Once you pick your age, that's your payment locked in for life. Honestly, if you can work a bit longer, it might be worth waiting, but everyone's situation is different. Like, some folks just can’t keep working due to health or, you know, just being done with work. So, yeah, it's your choice, but just be ready for a payout that's a lot less if you go early.