Jun 14, 2026
Suze Orman is sick of seeing posts with “bad advice” about Social Security on her socials.
In a recent blog, the personal finance guru took aim at anyone who claims it’s a smart move to start taking your checks at the minimum age of 62. Aside from a few exceptional cases, Orman claims every healthy person “will likely be much better off delaying.”
Advertisement
Orman’s argument hinges on a huge reduction in lifetime income potential. Claiming at 62 means you’re accepting a 30% reduction to your Social Security benefits. You only get to unlock 100% of your Social Security potential if you wait until full retirement age (67 for anyone born after 1960).
The argument Orman keeps hearing on social media is that it takes over a decade for the larger checks to outpace the earlier start. If you do the math, someone who waits to claim until 67 won’t “break even” on their total earnings until they hit age 79.
Although Orman admits the math is sound, that doesn’t necessarily translate to sound logic. As Orman puts it, “Waiting to collect a larger benefit is not a gamble — it is insurance against the very real possibility of living a long time.”
To illustrate her point, Orman says to imagine a 65-year-old woman in decent health who has a 50% chance of living till 88. According to Orman, the peace of mind that comes from having “meaningfully more” after the break-even age is far more valuable than collecting early.
But what if Social Security runs out of dough?
The second rebuttal Orman debunked centers around the fear that Social Security won’t have enough funds to pay beneficiaries.
By the Social Security Administration’s own admission, the trust fund that supports these paychecks will start running low soon. Without any action in D.C., current tax revenue will only bring in enough to pay out “three-fourths of the scheduled benefits” starting sometime between 2033 and 2035.
Understandably, that might spook a lot of people into taking their Social Security earlier to get their cash while they can.
But Orman says that’s not a good enough argument.
Advertisement
First of all, it’s still a big “if” that beneficiaries will take the brunt of this insolvency issue. Orman pointed to a similar crisis in the 1980s when Alan Greenspan introduced reforms to protect the most vulnerable Americans.
If beneficiaries do suffer a worst-case scenario cut to their monthly pay, you’ll only come out ahead for a few years before the cut happens. After that, you’re affected like everyone else — and will suffer an additional cut through your own actions for the rest of your life.
“Claiming early doesn’t protect you from the cut. It just means absorbing it from a lower starting point,” Orman says.
Must Read
- You can now build wealth like a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to chase down rent or take 3 A.M tenant calls
- Goldman Sachs used to hoard prime real estate deals for the ultrarich. Two ex-analysts just opened the door for $250
- Robert Kiyosaki begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’ — says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
So, when should I claim Social Security?
If you want a clean, easy number to aim for, Suze Orman recommends you stick with 70 to max out those juicy delayed retirement credits.
That said, she does accept that people will face exceptional circumstances. For instance, if you have a health issue today, you can’t work or you don’t have other retirement savings, then she says it makes more sense to claim early.
If you can afford to wait, Suze Orman says wait.
After all, you should hope to live a long, healthy life, not plan to croak before your cash runs out. A TIAA Institute survey found that 32% of American adults underestimated the average lifespan for a 65-year-old.
In the end, you should never let emotions, rigid rules or influencers — even Suze Orman — dictate what you do with a critical lifeline like Social Security. Always focus on your specific financial needs and, if necessary, bring an accredited financial advisor into the picture to make sure you’re making the best possible move.
You May Also Like
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and the simple steps to fix it ASAP
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
- Millionaires under 43 are reshaping investing — just 25% of their portfolios are in stocks. Here’s where their money is going
- Robert Kiyosaki issues grim warning for baby boomers. Many could be ‘wiped out’ and homeless ‘all over’ the country. How to protect yourself now
Eric Esposito is a freelance contributor on MoneyWise who loves making financial topics accessible and understandable to readers. In addition to MoneyWise, Eric’s work can be found in publications such as WallStreetZen and CoinDesk.
