Free 2026 guide · Before you file
When Should You Claim Social Security?
For many people it is a $100,000 decision, and once you file it is mostly locked in for life. See what every age from 62 to 70 can pay you, how to protect your spouse, and the 7 costly mistakes to avoid before you file.
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Why this matters now
One decision. Up to 30 years of paychecks.
Most people spend more time choosing a new car than choosing when to claim Social Security. The car lasts ten years. This decision lasts the rest of your life, and it can shape your spouse’s income long after you are gone.
The good news
The most expensive claiming mistakes are easy to avoid when you see the numbers side by side, before you file.
Inside the guide
How many of these sound familiar?
Tap any mistake you might be about to make. Be honest, nobody sees this but you.
- Bonus: The Claiming Scorecard and Worksheet10 honest statements and a simple score, plus a worksheet to estimate your own check at every age.
Each mistake in the guide comes with a better move to make instead.
Free PDF. Opens on the next page.The eye-opener
Same couple. Same benefits. One widow gets 50% more every month.
Two hypothetical couples earned the same Social Security benefits. Years later, one surviving spouse receives about half again as much each month as the other, for the rest of her life. Nobody picked better investments. The guide shows what was different, and why many people call it the most important gift a married couple can give each other.
So what was different?
Hypothetical example for educational purposes only. Not a projection of anyone’s benefits.
What you get
A clear, colorful guide with your numbers in plain English.
- Your claiming age chart, from 62 to 70
- Spousal, survivor and divorced benefits explained simply
- Updated for 2026: earnings limits, taxes, Medicare and the Social Security Fairness Act
- Plain English. No jargon, no sales pitch.
This guide is for you if
You have one chance to get this right. You want to get it right.
- You are 55 to 70 and have not filed yet, and you want to know your best age before you do.
- You are married, and you want to protect the check your spouse would keep.
- You are widowed or divorced after 10 or more years of marriage, and are not sure what you may be owed.
- You have a public pension as a teacher, police officer, firefighter or government worker.
- You plan to keep working for a while, and wonder how a paycheck affects your benefit.
- Headlines about Social Security running out have you thinking about claiming early.
A note from Roger
Most claiming mistakes come from deciding too early, alone, or in a hurry.
I help people who are close to retirement, or already there, turn their savings and Social Security into income they can count on. Social Security is the one decision I see people rush the most, and it is one of the hardest to undo.
I wrote this guide so you can see the numbers side by side before you file. Read it, score yourself with the scorecard, and talk it over with your spouse or family. When you want a second set of eyes on your own statement, my door is always open.
Roger FishelRoger Fishel Financial · Orlando, Central Florida & nationwide by video
How it works
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Score your plan
Take the 10-point Claiming Scorecard. If you want help, book a free Retirement Clarity Session.
Questions
Before you download
Is the guide really free?
Yes. There is no cost and no credit card. Fill in the short form and the PDF is yours.
When should I claim Social Security?
It depends on your health, savings, work plans, taxes and spouse. You can claim at any age from 62 to 70, and each month you wait raises your check for life. The guide shows what each age can pay and the questions that help you choose.
I already started collecting. Is it still useful?
Parts of it are. If you filed in the last 12 months, you may be able to withdraw your application. The survivor, divorced, tax and Medicare sections help at any age. It is most useful before you file.
Will someone pressure me to buy something?
No. The guide is education. You will get the guide and a few helpful follow-up emails, and Roger’s team may reach out once to make sure it arrived. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Why do you ask for my phone number?
So we can text you a link to your guide and answer questions if you have them. Message frequency varies, and you can reply STOP at any time.
Is this financial or tax advice?
No. The guide is for general education only, and every example in it is hypothetical. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. Roger Fishel Financial is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration.
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Know your best claiming age before you file.
Get Your $100,000 Social Security Decision today, free, and see what every age from 62 to 70 can pay you.