On Social Security benefits..if you were 62 and were underemployed

[hfojvt]

27. 23K is next to nothing?

It's less than I make now, but it's more than I made annually for the last five years.

As far as SS goes, he will make less money on social security than he does for working, but for me it is worth it to take a substantial pay cut just to not have to goto my fucking job every day all day.

For me, the math said - retire early. My earnings report in 2008 says (curiously enough I was making $22,924 in 2006).

At age 62 I get $656
at age 67 I get $993
at age 70 I get $1,257 per month.

So, by working those 5 years, I lose $39,360 in benefits. At age 67, I would start making another $337 a month. It takes 117 months before I come out finacially ahead from late retirement. IF I live that long, by that time I will be 76. Then I start losing $337 a month, but it is worth it, to me, for five more years of freedom.

But the other question is - can I live on $656 a month, with reduced pension and a smaller IRA? And what about health care? Too young for medicare, can I get medicaid, or health insurance, and can I afford health insurance? Many people that I know keep working because of the health insurance.