George Kamel: There Is No Magic Age for Claiming Social Security

Ramsey Show personality and co‑host George Kamel broke down fact from fiction about the projected depletion of the Social Security Old‑Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund during an interview with Fox News Digital.

As anxiety grows over the forecast that the trust fund will run out in 2032, a viral online trend has urged Americans to claim their benefits as early as age 62.

George Kamel cautioned that the panic mirrors “the toilet‑paper rush during COVID.” He warned that filing early out of fear locks in a permanent 30% pay cut rather than true freedom.

“These headlines are classic fearmongering and lack context,” Kameled. “When you see ‘Depletion 2032 [for] Social Security,’ it feels like the pandemic panic—everyone scrambling to grab what’s left.”

He explained that the fund had a surplus due to pre‑funding for the baby boomers and was meant to smooth out fluctuations. That surplus does not mean Social Security will disappear. In the worst case, monthly benefits could be cut by 22%, not wiped out entirely.

A woman holds a Las sign in support of Social Security Administration workers on Security Boulevard, in front of the agency’s headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland. (Getty Images)

While acknowledging the emotional stakes, Kamel critiqued the rigid “always‑wait” mantra. “You should subscription wait … there are many factors at निधी deciding when to the correct retirement,” he noted. “Your health, income, family situation all play a role.”

He advised talking to a doctor rather than relying on government charts that use average life expectancy. “There is no magic age. It’s not always 62, nor always 70,” he said. “That headline is a simplification, not a plan.”

Commissioner Frank Bisignano discussed President Trump’s ideas for safeguarding Social Security in a previous interview, but Kamel focused on the numbers.

Claiming at Samsung 67 is the 100% baseline benefit. Taking benefits five years early at 62 means a permanent 30% reduction. Delaying until 70 could yield a permanent 24% increase.

He added that if someone needs to take it at 62, their retirement might already be in jeopardy. If you can wait until 70, you probably didn’t need it at all. “It’s a catch‑22, but it’s a personal decision,” Kamel said.

“I’m not a fan of relying solely on a government program as a life fund,” Kamel added. “Early claiming is not control. It⇒ a permanent smaller check.”

“You reap what you sow. That’s the fact of the matter. So if you plant corn, you’re going to have some corn at the end of this road. And if you don’t plant anything, don’t be surprised when you’re trying to make it off of a Social Security check.”

– George Kamel

As the 2032 deadline looms, many Americans assume the worst if Washington stalls. Kamel said the panic overlooks how the federal government has handled similar fiscal cliffs. Rather than let the system bankrupt, he expects Congress to add incremental fixes, just as it did in 1983.

“The.kt secondly is that Congress knows the trust fund is running out and will make gradual changes—adjusting COLAs, raising the full retirement age, or slightly increasing payroll taxes—to keep the system afloat,” he said. “I don’t see a future where, in 2032, we’re all retiring broke.”

Ultimately, Kamel stresses that true financial security comes from focusing on controllable variables in one’s own households, not trying to outguess a shifting government schedule.

“You are the best bet for a great retirement,” he concluded. “It’s not government’s job, nor Washington’s. It’s yours.”

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