Generally, the earlier one claims Social Security, the lower their monthly benefit will be for the rest of their life, and the impact can be significant. If a person can hold off on claiming by just one year, for instance, the result can be a boost in their monthly benefit by up to 8 percent. Factors in claiming early, according to research: education, whether one lives in a rural area, health, and ability to work. And then there’s the pandemic, forcing many to retire early. AARP’s recent Policy Now short video segment explains. | 
