[bornsaver]

I was looking at a chart on this site that showed how much you gained or lost by collecting social security at 62: Turning 62: Have your retirement cake and eat it, too - USATODAY.com.

For someone who lives well into their eighties or beyond, you would lose a lot of money over the long term according to their numbers. However, some retirees feel they don't have a choice. My thinking is that it greatly depends on the individual. For instance, continuing to work full-time could place a big burden on the person's health.

Don't you think this is a real dilemma with no black and white answers?

[Mary]

There's an argument to support both ways of looking at it. If you wait, you'll get more per pay period. If you collect early, you stand to get less per pay period. But we don't know how long our life span will be, so I think a person should decide based on their own circumstances.

[abbys2cents]

I've heard of people drawing social security early, changing their minds, and paying it back. If you do, you can then draw it again later at the higher payment. That sounds like a lot of trouble. I'd rather look at it as if I'm locking it in at that amount. So, I'd think very carefully before I started drawing it early. I'm not sure exactly how it's calculated, but I think you have a little bit more added to your monthly benefit for every additional month you wait to start collecting.

[R. Paradon]

Due to financial problems I was forced into early retirement and while I realize that I have lost SS money I really do not mind. I have chosen to live in a lower cost foreign country and am living comfortably here. If I had stayed in the States I'd probably would not have been able to find employment due to my age and being "over qualified" for many positions. So in all honestly I can say that early retirement was the correct thing for me to do.