PIX11 News | October 9, 2026
Cary Carbonaro joined PIX11 to explain why the decision of when to claim Social Security matters so much for women. It can’t be undone, and it sets your guaranteed income for life. Claiming at 62 cuts your benefit by about 30% compared with full retirement age, and more women than men claim that early. Because women tend to live longer, Cary encourages them to ask how to get the most income over a lifetime, not how soon they can collect. Waiting from full retirement age to 70 increases your benefit by 8% a year. Widows can start survivor benefits as early as 60, let their own benefit grow, and switch to it at 70.
The takeaway: Don’t take this decision lightly. Plan for a long life, and talk with a professional before you claim.
