Retirement Social Security

Dave Ramsey Explains Why 62 Is the Best Age To Claim Social Security

Why Dave Ramsey believes filing for Social Security at 62 can help you build a stronger retirement plan.

By David Maina

Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Dec. 2, 2025

Many people are told to delay Social Security as long as possible, but Dave Ramsey argues the opposite. He believes claiming at 62 can give you more control over your income and help you build a more stress-free retirement.

His reasoning challenges the traditional "wait as long as possible" mindset and taps into a broader debate about longevity, personal risk, and how retirees should think about their money.

In this article, you'll see why Ramsey points to 62, the assumptions behind his argument, and how his thinking fits into the wider debate over when to file for Social Security.

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Why Ramsey believes starting Social Security at 62 can pay off

Ramsey notes that if you take benefits at 62 and invest them, the gains can outweigh the advantage of waiting. As he puts it, "It usually makes sense to take it early if you're going to invest every bit of it."

He argues that starting early means "five years of checks" you wouldn't receive if you held out, and those years can make a difference if the money is invested over time.

Suppose your full retirement benefit at 67 would be $1,500 per month. Claiming at 62 gives you about 70% of that, or roughly $1,050.

The check is smaller, but you get five additional years of payments, with money that can be saved, invested, or used in ways that matter to you.

Ramsey's team estimates that by age 77, someone who starts at 62 could receive about $189,000, compared with $180,000 if they waited until 67.

The broader point behind his reasoning is that time matters. More years of receiving checks give you more opportunities to build a financial base that supports you later, especially if you want flexibility in retirement and more options for how you use your money.

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Situations where Ramsey's early-claim strategy can work well

Ramsey's approach isn't aimed at everyone. His argument tends to apply when certain conditions line up, and those conditions shape how well his reasoning fits your situation. The majority of financial advisors recommend age 65 to be the perfect retirement age, but that doesn't work for everyone's situation.

For example, if you want to stop working at 62 because of health issues, job strain, or simple readiness, starting Social Security early can give you steady income right away.

It also helps if you are debt-free and have other resources to lean on. Ramsey warns, "Don't retire until you're truly ready — zero debt, a fully funded nest egg, and a clear monthly budget."

In his framework, Social Security is one component of a broader plan rather than the main support. When loans are paid off and savings are solid, the earlier benefit plays a more flexible role.

Discipline plays a big role, too. His strategy depends on taking those early checks and investing them. If you commit to putting each payment into a growth portfolio, the compounding can make up for the smaller benefit.

In short, this advice works for people who want control over their timing, have a strong financial base, and feel confident as investors.

What you give up when you start Social Security early

Claiming Social Security at 62 gives you income right away, but it also locks in a permanently smaller monthly check.

If your full retirement age is 67, taking benefits early can reduce your payment by roughly 30%. Over time, that difference compounds, especially because cost-of-living adjustments are applied to a smaller base.

Working can also complicate things. If you earn more than the annual earnings limit while collecting early benefits, Social Security withholds part of your check. This "earnings test" only applies before full retirement age, but it can create short-term cash flow issues if your income is higher than expected.

Another factor is investment behavior. Ramsey's plan works only if you invest the early checks and stay consistent. If the market drops or you spend the money instead, the strategy can fall apart. Many retirees may not have the discipline or risk tolerance needed to follow this approach.

To put it simply, claiming at 62 trades a smaller monthly benefit for earlier income that must be managed carefully. The risk is that if your investments don't pan out or you live a very long retirement, you may end up with less in total

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How to decide if Ramsey's advice works for you

Before you follow Ramsey's plan, take a moment to check a few key points:

Check your savings to be sure your budget can handle a smaller monthly benefit.
Consider your health and compare lifetime totals at 62, 66, 67, and 70 if you expect a long retirement.
Review any pension or annuity that could affect the best age for you to file.
Commit to investing every check if you plan to follow Ramsey's early-claim approach.
Plan your work income so the earnings test doesn't reduce your benefit more than expected.

If you already keep a tight handle on your finances, you might see how his argument fits your situation, but it's worth remembering that the implications aren't the same for every household.

Bottom line

Claiming Social Security at 62 comes with real trade-offs, and Ramsey's argument highlights only one way to think about them. What ultimately matters is how each choice fits your health outlook and the kind of retirement you want to build.

When you look at the full picture, from your savings, your income sources, to how you feel about market risk, you get a clearer sense of whether early benefits help you retire comfortably. The better you know your own numbers, the easier it is to choose a filing age that supports your goals.

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