For many Americans, claiming Social Security is a highly anticipated and much welcomed moment. The decision as to the best time to claim benefits, however, should really only come after a thoughtful analysis of your personal circumstances -- both financial and non-financial. If you do decide to claim benefits, be sure to have given the below questions some thought first.

Here, we'll answer three questions that most pre-retirees likely have before applying for their first Social Security check.

Some people are extremely excited to retire but find themselves bored without a structured schedule or lively social life. It's a great idea to retire "to" something as opposed to "away" from a job, so try to have a rough sketch of how you'll spend your time -- especially in the early days of retirement.

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Source Fool.com