Here's the average Social Security benefit for people age 65. Waiting longer to claim benefits, even past retirement age, can boost monthly payments

Social Security retirement claims tend to follow a seasonal pattern each year, and they increase over time with the aging of the population, says Jack Smalligan, senior policy fellow at the Urban Institute. But this spring, something different happened, he says: an unexpected surge in the number of people applying for retirement benefits.

What did the United Income researchers determine was the best age to claim Social Security? It wasn't 62. Instead, they found that 92% of Americans would be better off holding off until at least age 65 to claim Social Security retirement benefits, and 71% would be better off waiting until age 70.