https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/why-so-many-americans-leave-social-security-money-on-the-tableContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/why-so-many-americans-leave-social-security-money-on-the-tablehttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/why-so-many-americans-leave-social-security-money-on-the-table#u85421Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:30:11 +0000Many Americans are claiming Social Security benefits before reaching full retirement age, a trend driven by financial concerns and differing retirement strategies. Schroders reports that 45% of people expect to claim early. While some advisors like Dave Ramsey encourage collecting at 62, other strategies suggest using 401(k) savings between ages 62 and 70 to secure higher monthly payouts, such as $6,200. This tension between immediate liquidity and maximizing long-term payouts leaves many retirees with lower lifetime benefits than if they had delayed their claims.Why it mattersClaiming benefit