Question: how much do you lose if you retire at 65 instead of 66?
Answer: If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim Social Security at 62, your monthly benefit will be reduced by 30 percent — permanently. File at 65 and you lose 13.33 percent — again, permanently. If your full retirement benefit is $1,500 a month, over 20 years that 13.33 percent penalty adds up to nearly $48,000.