Retirement Social Security

Should You Claim Social Security at 62? Dave Ramsey Says Only in These Cases

Find out when Dave Ramsey recommends claiming Social Security at 62.

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Oct. 12, 2026

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Sixty-two is the earliest age you can start Social Security retirement benefits, and many people rush to file as soon as they can. But if you claim early, your senior benefits check is permanently smaller. This is why it's so important to consider your finances and retirement plan before you claim early.

Dave Ramsey is well known for pushing back on the "wait as long as possible" advice of other experts like Suze Orman. But he specifies that claiming at 62 only makes sense in a handful of very specific circumstances.

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You have serious health concerns or a shortened life expectancy

This is the most straightforward "why wait?" situation. If your health is bad or your life expectancy isn't great, then why wait? If you're not going to be around to enjoy the benefits of a bigger check, then it makes more sense to file earlier.

If you claim early, you take a smaller check. If you delay claiming, you claim a bigger check. But the longer you wait, the fewer months you actually receive payments. Ramsey points out that, depending on when you pass away, you could end up receiving more total dollars by claiming earlier, especially if you're already experiencing significant health problems.

Waiting only makes sense if you'll be around long enough to enjoy the larger check.

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You don't need the check to live on, so you can invest it instead

If you're not planning to rely on Social Security to pay your bills, Ramsey says it could be smart to claim at 62. He argues that if you can take the check and invest it, you may gain more in the market than you would by waiting for a larger benefit.

His idea is to take the benefit money as soon as you can, and then put it to work. But this plan only works if your day-to-day costs are already covered by other income, such as retirement accounts, a pension, part-time work, rental income, or a spouse's income, for example.

Just be aware that market returns aren't guaranteed, and early claiming means you're accepting a permanently lower benefit. Plus, with investing, your capital is at risk, compared with Social Security, where you are guaranteed a check and will receive every COLA applied to your base benefit.

Also, if you're married, a smaller benefit can matter for survivor planning because Social Security decisions can affect what a surviving spouse may receive.

You need income now, and working longer isn't realistic

If you're 62, need income right away, but can't keep working, then claiming early may be the best option available to you. Maybe you lost your job, you're a caregiver, or you have health issues, and you don't have alternative sources of income. In these cases, it may make the most sense for you to file early.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) also suggests seeing if you're eligible for disability benefits if ill health is keeping you out of work. This makes sense, as disability can pay a benefit similar to what you'd receive at full retirement age, without touching your retirement benefit.

If you're still able to work but still need extra income and decide to file early, remember and plan for the retirement earnings test. In 2026, if you're under full retirement age all year, and you claim Social Security retirement benefits while you're still working, you may trigger the earnings test. It kicks in if you earn more than $24,480.

Once you exceed that figure, SSA will automatically withhold $1 for every $2 that you earn. But do remember that once you stop working or reach full retirement age, SSA recalculates your monthly benefit amount slightly upward to credit you for the months of earnings test withholdings.

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Bottom line

Ramsey says there are a few specific situations where filing for retirement benefits at 62 might be the best way to lower your financial stress in retirement. If you're not expecting to enjoy a long retirement, for example, because you have significant, life-limiting health problems, you may as well claim as soon as you can.

If you don't need the money, Ramsey suggests filing early and then investing the money so that it potentially grows and becomes part of your estate. And lastly, if you need the money, don't have an alternative, and can't work, then claiming early could be your best option. But if you're in good health, you should stay in the workforce if you can.

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