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Don’t Fret Over Social Security Starting Date

Starting your social security benefits a little early won’t be the end of the world.
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Don’t Fret Over Social Security Starting Date
Some people are anxious to file for social security at the right time. Anna_Kim/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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I am always hearing from readers who are hung up on making sure they start their Social Security benefits at precisely their full retirement age. Or at precisely the age of 70. They don’t want those benefits a month before. They don’t want them a month after.

They want to make darn sure that their benefits start at exactly the month they chose as their Social Security starting date. And they almost seem to be losing sleep making sure this is going to happen. They send me emails asking me, almost begging me, to help them make sure they select the right date.

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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