Over 60% of retirees take their Social Security benefits at age 62.  However most financial writers have pointed out that these retirees could easily generate more income by delaying benefits.  Remember we can delay benefits until our "full retirement age" or age 70 to get a boost in retirement income.  Registered Rep magazine has provided some of the math.

The Social Security Administration takes a carrot-and-stick approach to encourage people to delay taking benefits. Beneficiaries who initiate payments at 62 receive monthly checks that are about 25 percent less than what they would have received had they waited until “full” retirement age. Those who hold off until age 70 get about 32 percent more per month than what they would have received if they had started taking payments at full retirement age.