Here’s the issue with using a “break-even calculation” to decide when to claim Social Security: The break-even method basically compares what you’d collect if you take Social Security early (say, at 62) vs. delaying (say, until 70), and asks, “At what age do the totals equal out?” If you live past that age, delaying supposedly “wins.” That logic sounds neat, but it’s flawed for two big reasons: 1. Life expectancy is not the same as YOUR lifespan. Average life expectancy for someone in their 60s