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Center for
Retirement Research
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Briefs

Briefs offer concise and insightful analyses of topical issues.

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When Should Married Men Claim Social Security Benefits?

by Steven A. Sass, Wei Sun, and Anthony Webb March 2008

IB#8-4

Introduction

Most married men claim Social Security benefits at age 62 or 63, well short of the age that maximizes the expected present value of the average household’s benefits. That many married men “leave money on the table” is surprising. It is also problematic. It results in much lower benefits for surviving spouses and the low incomes of elderly widows are a major social problem. If married men delayed claiming Social Security benefits, retirement income security would significantly improve. This brief focuses on the potential gains from delayed claiming and the factors that may influence claiming behavior. It then considers possible policy responses.

For full paper in PDF

For related working paper

All of the authors are with the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Steven A. Sass is Associate Director for Research. Wei Sun is a graduate research assistant. Anthony Webb is a research economist.