You can start receiving Social Security benefits between ages 62 and 70. If you claim your benefits before your full retirement age (FRA), you will reduce your monthly benefit, though. Depending on your birth year and how early you claim, you could receive as little as 70% of your standard benefit for filing ahead of your FRA.

You may be tempted to simply accept this benefit cut if you want to get ahold of your retirement checks right away. But before you make an early Social Security claim, you should think carefully about the impact this choice could have on your spouse. Here's why.

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Source Fool.com