There’s an Unexpected Surge in Social Security Benefit Claims

June 15, 2025 — It has always been the case that many more retirees claim their Social Security benefits at the earliest opportunity. The earliest possible age for claiming is 62, but only a small percentage delay until they are eligible for their maximum benefit at age 70. Some experts believe that the Trump inauguration is behind a jump in earlier claims. That is because between January and May the number of claims was nearly 18% higher than during the same period last year.

Jack Smalligan, policy expert at the Urban Institute is concerned. The surge is worrying, he says, “because for most individuals, it’s financially smart for them to postpone claiming as long as they’re financially able to.” That’s because the longer you wait to claim your monthly benefit, the more it grows.

Reasons for Earlier Claims

The Social Security Administration has stated some reasons why recipients are opting to file for benefits at a younger age. Those include spousal benefit re-claims, an increase in baby boomers, and a change in pension laws as they affect Social Security. What makes more sense to us is a now deleted statement by Leland Dudek, who was then the agency’s acting commissioner. In a now deleted recording he stated to another official “…that fear mongering has driven people to claim benefits earlier, because they’re afraid they’re not going to claim benefits at all.”

Other beneficiaries and experts agree with Dudek. There is fear that the Trump Administration will push for changes that will reduce benefits, change eligibility, or not work to improve the system’s financial health. All of the efforts from DOGE have increased people’s fears. And finally, the date when the Social Security Trust Funds are exhausted and major benefit cuts are a necessity (2034 or thereabouts), draws ever near. Since it seems unlikely that Congress or the President has any interest in fixing that major problem, many people are apparently deciding that it is time to claim and get whatever they can before the money runs out.

See NPR – “Why There Is an Unexpected Surge in People Claiming Social Security“.

Comments: How about you? If you haven’t claimed already, are you more likely to apply earlier rather than later? Post your thoughts in the Comments section below.