The Social Security Game

Today, the full retirement age for claiming Social Security benefits is 66. Anyone can start taking benefits at 62, but those who do will get a monthly benefit that is 25 percent lower than what the full benefit would have been at 66.Waiting longer than 66 increases the benefit by 8 percent a year.

It is a strange system indeed. The longer you wait, the bigger check you get (I guess because you're expected to croak sooner?). So people have been "playing" the game by going as long as they can without the check to get a bigger total when they do get it. I hate to imagine, though, peoples grandmothers and grandfathers who have serious medical problems trying to work for as long as they possibly can to get more money in the long run. 

Also, this just in, apparently social security won't disappear when the money is up.
There are financial shortfalls predicted, but the program is not going to disappear. Unfortunately nothing in the article specifically said what will happen.

Whatever happens, I just pray to the universe that me and my parents won't have to work until we're 80 years old.