The social security trust fund is made up entirely of US treasuries that will collapse.

50 for me!

55

that’s when i retired!

No such thing as a retirement age. You’re able to retire when you’ve accumulated enough assets to support your desired lifestyle for the rest of your estimated lifespan, regardless of age.

As long as Medicare and social security don't start until 65, this won't be happening. If you were well off enough to do that, you'd go broke on health insurance in this system.

I think the key here is age 58 should be "allowed" if you wish and life should be affordable and some enjoyment before age related health issues are piled on. If you want to keep plugging away go ahead, but wouldn't it be amazing if we had the realistic choice at 58?

Sure, if you want to bankrupt the economy.

"Better things are not possible" -Democratic party and supporters.

Yes

No 65 is a good age!!

agree. would love to have retired at 58. wishful thinking for most. I work for a local non-profit that employs many elders in their mid to late 70s. One amazing staff member is 80, still also teaching. we are all still working because we cannot afford to fully retire.

Wouldn’t that be nice. On the media in the land of Oz last week a Gov sniper suggested we go 4 days at 60-65 & part time at 70. @albomp.bsky.social wants to work Australians until they die while he & his cronies live off the interest from their property investments & Gov super.

55.

If I retire at 58, I will be homeless.

Retirement age should be 40, and paychecks should be conducive to that

No - 55. Give us time to enjoy retirement.

Retirement age shouldn't be a thing at all. We shouldn't be working jobs we don't enjoy, especially when huge amounts of jobs literally shouldn't exist. The field of tax employees outside the IRS only exists because TurboTax and H&R Block pay hundreds of millions to keep it that way.

nah. still too young

Government? Private workers? If private, what if they can't afford to retire? GOP will likely slash Social Security & Medicare in order to have money to give tax cuts & gov contracts to billionaires. So some ppl who could have afforded to retire may now not be able to.

Those survey respondents should have made careers for themselves in the military it seems like to me.

Since employers start pushing out "the brain trust" older employess at around 55, I would say 58 or 60. Factor in how polution which will no doubt be worse under the republicans, is lowering life expentancy. Add in how funding for medical research was gutted by the republicans, 58 sounds reasonable

In a compassionate world, a semi-retirement age would line up with having grandchildren: roughly around 50-55, with full retirement at the family's discretion. Generational wisdom & enabling your children as supportive parents are key to loving cultures; working until you suddenly die, not so much.

Should be, for sure, but not at all possible without some serious serious social security reform

No

I'd argue 55, but I'm an idealist.

As we evolve as a civilization we should be working less as automation takes over tasks for us. We should be compensated the same and not have the majority of economic wealth go to oligarchs. This means either working shorter work days or shorter work weeks or earlier retirement.

I'm 58 in three weeks time. Count me in.

Yes

Officially it is 59 1/2. That’s when you can take out of your 401k with out the government punishing you. One of my pension funds uses 57 as when you can apply to withdrawal (other than disability)

No. Everyone needs options. Some folks need to physically retire before 60 and others have the physical and or mental capability of working into their 80’s. MAGA and the GOP before them think people should work until they die, with no medical care. It’s the Red State Way.

If the retirement age is set to 58, they're not going to force you to quit on your birthday.

What does retirement age mean in this context? I worked until I was 72 at a job that I enjoyed. I now have a very comfortable retirement.

i assume the age social security pays out

If that's the case, it's worthless to discuss because it will never happen in the USA

if our politicians stop crying about communism and actually invest the money, maybe. at least for all the bad things trump has opened the door to that with intel

Does the America first president want to make it 70?

Absolutely

It should absolutely be an option IMO.

Retirement 'should' be affordable

I’d prefer 55.

No. Shouldn’t be a blanket policy

They're not saying forced retirement age.

For people that do hard labor or people that do work that requires them to be on their feet all day - absolutely!

It should be 55. We spend the entirety of our best most mobile years breaking our backs to earn a living & support this economic system. For some work is a fulfilling environment but for most of us it is a soul sucking event we are forced to do just to keep a roof over our head & bellies full.

Depends on your job. I'm a labourer, have been for thirty years. I don't sit down at all, ever. I walk, continually, all day. I work outside, doing earthworks and concreting. We work in remote areas, developing property. So, no running water, or electricity, or air conditioning. 58? I doubt it.

US Government: 'best we can do is 78"

One way to avoid paying back social security is to have retirement age meet life expectency

This is exactly how it was when first enacted.

The more logical way is to abolish the income ceiling.

Not really. The "average" life expectancy was pulled down by infant mortality, and babies don't pay into social security. If you lived to 65, the average was closer to 78.

Also a false statement, most stats summing to 78 exclude accidental death and other health issues. www.reddit.com/r/badhistory...

Cool. A reddit post.

You'll notice I specifically said if you live to 65, which kept my statement accurate. I intentionally excluded accidents and workplace deaths because my point was and still is that the system was intentionally created so that people could retire at 65 and enjoy a few years of not working.

A few years. Not 20. Less than 5 typically. If you live to 95 mooching for 30 years is a huge problem, not intended function.

"Mooching" 🙄🫠 Yes, a 65 year old (who now has to wait until 67) will statistically get three more years to enjoy retirement than they did in 1930.

Made up stats for made up scenarios lol

The important bit about life expectancy is that developing technology should only increase it and its going down in America. The future is not working for us.

I think countries like the US are finding that preserving half dead aggressive demented people to 110 is not a better health outcome than a dignified death at 80, and this will become a standard.

America is immune to "finding out" or any kind.

Lol ok

I mean all of our problems are things that experts predicted decades ago and we had all the time in the world to correct for but actively chose not to. We could have secured social security, easily. But it would have meant taxing rich people or fighting fewer unnecessary wars.

This is exactly the goal of the Republican Party now 🤮🤮🤮🤮

I did 11 years ago

YES!

If this is in relation to social security, then sure.

Should be lower for people in physically punishing work that damages health/physiology.

At 61 I need backpay

Yes, 58.

A dictator wont let you retire.

Yes!

Including presidents and congress

It should be 40

As a 60 year old, yes.

It should be one year younger than whatever I am

No. It should depend on the mental and physical health of the individual. Sadly, it also depends on whether they have enough retirement money to live on. For low-wage earners, retirement is usually just a dream.

Reasonable.

The average American male dies at 73 At the earliest, 62 early Social Security draw, you get 11 years. That's 2014 til today 67? 6 years. That's 2019 til today.

100% Agree. I retired at 56!

If you spend half a century in a trade doing physical labor that takes a toll on your body, sure, retiring at 58 makes sense. Just do the grandkids a financial favor and make sure you don't live past 78.

I would have 20 years ago. But no...maybe 62. The administration wants it to be higher than the average age of life expectancy.

A survey about wishes, cool.

If you want your population to live on PB&J sandwiches 24/7, yes I agree Practically, most can’t even save for a decent retirement at 65

YES

My dad retired at 60 and it has been terrible for him mentally and socially. Golf, travel, reading, and puttering around can only get you so far. I've witnessed that 60s, 70s, and 80s are still decades for learning, contributing and accomplishing. As for artists... our retirement isn't until death 💜

My parents retired at 60 and lived another 30+ fulfilling years. I think the key is to still feel you are doing something beyond the fun stuff, and are contributing to your world. They delivered meals on wheels, fed many in their community from their large garden, and did other volunteer work.

My dad is an engineer... a thinking person. Retiring so young was, by his own admission, not good for him. Volunteering does not fulfill everyone in retirement. And contributing to the world comes in all forms. I'm glad your parents did well in retirement... not everyone does

Of course it’s not for everyone. Some find purpose and fulfillment in their careers. I think my folks were a bit burned out after almost forty years as teachers and were more than ready to move on. OTOH, my father in law was forced into early retirement and was miserable.

I think full retirement age should be 55. You should get full social security benefits at that time not incremental like it is now with retiring at 62 on lower benefits and having full retirement age at 67.

I did retire at 58, after 40 years with the same company

Who can afford that

I retired at 66 and I’m fairly happy. I was done and it just felt right. No regrets. I’m not sure I was ready before that, certainly not 58. But everyone is different

I’m 58 and I’m so ready! But yes everyone is different. My dad would have worked forever.

I would do anything to be able to retire

Same. 52, and I can't until Medicare. I am a nurse and am just so tired.

56. Mentally exhausted. Sigh.

Retired at 57. Plan See the finish line Best decision I ever made.

No

When I was 55, I was a hormonal mess. I had a job and little sleep. I was exhausted all of the time. I'd put my coat on my office floor, lock the door, and sleep during my lunch hour. I worked with Chinese researchers. I learned in China, women retired at 55 and men at 60. In 2025,...

...blue collar women now can retire at 55, white collar women at 58, and men at 63. So yes, 58 should be the retirement age. We need to tax the billionaires to extinction. Unlimited wealth is unlimited power.

45

As opposed to working until we drop dead? Absolutely.

If SS goes away my retirement plan is gonna be hemlock tea. Much more civilized than freezing or starving to death. I'm gonna take out some of the bastards that did that first, though.

Mine would be to go serve justice to the fucks that stole all my money.

Yes.

The decision to retire is not easy. For me, 58 is too young. However, it is based on your health, the type of work you do, your relationship to your career, your financial status, your relationships inside and outside of work, and what you plan to do in retirement. Everyone is very different.

Yes. There need to be options for everyone.

What was the average age of survey respondents?

Yup

Yes. People shouldn’t have to toil until their bodies break down just because billionaires hate paying taxes.

Yes

Makes a lot of sense considering how the actions of MAHA are shortening the life span in the US.

Honestly 55-60 seems like a solid retirement age. The average lifespan in the U.S. is 78 years so a decent quality decade or more of big chilling sounds fantastic. But let's be honest, we're all retiring when we're dead with how the economy is going.

I know a lot of people who died before they reached retirement age. As soon as I turned 62 I took a part time job that I love (6-7 days a month) and took my social security early. The game is rigged.

I’m 63 and doing the same exact thing. My husband still plans to work a few more years until we qualify for Medicare.

there is no medicare anymore for what i made out of the big b bill

My died at 62. Never collected any of his military or pension retirements. That was 12 years ago. We are going to start dying younger with Kennedie in charge of our health.

So sorry for your loss.

36

I retired at 55. Too young. Now, I’m 80.

Well at 58 it would be grand! But gotta pay those bills 😵‍💫😁

Retirement age should be 21.

Now you’re speaking my language

Yes!!!! 😎

It should be, but most people can't live on social security alone and a lot of people have worked irregular jobs and thus don't have a retirement fund so can't afford to retire

The other absurd side of this is that they want to make the retirement age 70+ but no one will hire anyone over 60

Or over 50. Or even over 40. Age discrimination is rampant, and it's nearly impossible to prove. The same ones who want to jack up the retirement age to 70 are the same ones who won't hire older workers.

Not to mention Healthcare. I have to at least make it to Medicare and not sure if I will be able to when that comes.

hell yeah

Retirement from wage slavery should be birth. Abolish capitalism.

I think at least 60. I'm high

did it 56 so yes I recommend it!

No, it should be increased to 70.

Not really, but Americans should have the right to 5 - 6 weeks of paid vacations, and men shouldn't die at 73. Single payer healthcare please.

40

Retirement should be when --YOU-- decide you can retire. "Formal age guidelines" for retirement on Social Security are established different than what we'd probably like.

50

For presidents, right? Right?

If they remove the cap on FICA withholding - sure. With AI coming for our jobs - people will have to leave the workforce so there is room for younger people to get those greeter jobs at Walmart.

That would be great, but we would at least need in the US instituted minimum wage that is a living wage, affordable housing cost controls, and universal healthcare to support such a structure.

I think when you are old enough to join AARP you’re old enough to retire. I see no reason why we should break our backs until we are 70 just to get maybe 7 or 8 years to spend on ourselves before dying.

Average savings at that age is like 228k so... Interesting retirement with no insurance or income and prices rocketing higher.

Partial retirement should start at 50 then kick in fully at 55

No. We should be able to do work we love until we find a new joy. & retire periodically to recharge. & continue contributing as we are able our whole lives. The current system is indentured servitude.

I’m down…but Medicare needs to be available at 62.

I believe it should be based on your health. If you can no longer physically or mentally work at 58, you should be able to retire. Sixty-seven to 70 is too late to actually enjoy retirement...IMO. A person should be able to retire when they can still romp with the grandkids, play sports, etc.

No

Funny how the money available to retirement funds hasn't grown as much as the wealth of billionaires. Wonder what could be happening there? 🤔

If everyone had 6 kids, sure

Trump is in the Epstein files.

50. Or 45. Employers don't want to hire older workers, so retirement needs to be around these ages. Also, we need UBI for anyone 18+. If SS/SSDI can't be raised to a level that one can live comfortably on, then UBI will be mandatory for retired/disabled workers.

Yup!

I agree all should be able to retire by then IF they want to.

Yes it would have been nice to retire right after all my cancer treatments were done,but I had to push on for a few more years after that .

I was fortunate that I could retire in my mid-50’s. I wish I hadn’t.

I am 58, and think retirement would be cool if I could afford it. It would be the right age for folks to get to choose. Gonna keep grinding for a bit.

If AARP sends out their “Welcome” packet at 55, seems that would be a good age to, you know, retire.

should is a shame word. what people should do is based on their abilities and what the state should do is support its citizens. ALL OF THEM. Even the disabled ones. what strangers shouldn’t do is judge strangers and what they are able to do based on ignorance of the person’s situation

Ideally, 33

998/1000 57 year olds surveyed?

45

Yes. The older you are, the harder it is to find/keep a job.

Absolutely !

It should be 55. We have computers and, now, AI. Let them do the work, as we were promised 40 years ago.

What age groups voted for this and in what numbers? What was the gender divide? What was the racial divide? “Surveys” like this, reported like this, are of no value at all.

Yes I agree. I am 58 🤣

50

I don’t think anyone should be able to hold any public office past age 55.

I took on a new career at 58 & have had some of my most productive years, since. I’m 70 & working else I’d go stir crazy, & I can’t afford not to (cost of living). No regrets. Sure, I’d rather be independently wealthy & have unlimited options, but I didn’t draw that card in the poker game of life.

For politicians, sure.

It would be nice to retire before I'm incapable of enjoying life, but that's not ever going to happen.

Yes. At least. If not younger.

Yes

In many countries people retire in their 50s when they're still young and vigorous enough to enjoy some of their retirement. Here (U.S.) not so much. I have quite a few senior neighbors and they all still work because they have to. My kitty-corner neighbor is not well, is 81, and still works.

Have worked full time since I was 15. 55 now. About to have 1st of both knees replaced and not entirely sure social security or my pension will be there in 10 years. No way I can make it to 67.

Yes!!

IF we took leave to recuperate AND earned commensurate wages AND universal basic income AND basic necessary healthcare allowing people to have jobs they like and that don’t break them down, then maybe we could set retirement around 60 with no punishment if you retire then or choose to work longer.

With ageism very rampant, it should be at least 50 if you are laid off at that age

Or younger

Retirement age should be 1. The idea that anyone should be forced to work to survive is not only obsolete, it's inhumane. Technology will make 95% of all employment obsolete and unnecessary. So what do you do with 95% unemployment? Capitalism is going to kill them off. Socialism solves that.

You bet! Especially if you're working a sh!t job.

57

Hard call. Construction and heavy labor jobs.. 🤔

No. I might go with 60. IDK I will be starting a new career at after 50. We must reinvent ourselves over and over.

60 to 62. Then the question is, can you afford to retire...

of course

40. You should be able to retire at 40. I’m 40.

Feels about right. That'd give me a few more months, and then I'd still have some brain matter and energy left for other kinds of activity and maybe a part-time job.

America is too poor of a nation for their workers to retire.

The jobs are coming! The jobs are coming!

I mean, I started working at 13 and if that was the age, I would be retiring now, which would be awesome. But honestly I don’t think I’m ready to hang it up full time and sadly, I know I’ll die before I have enough $$ to retire. The American way.

Avg life expectancy is 76 for men, 81 for women, in US. Full retirement collection of SS is 67. They want to ensure the years you paid in, will not be fully returned to you.

Absolutely. Learn/explore for 25 years, work for 25 years, retire for 25 years. 2 years mandatory service 18-20.

I think most normal people are spent at 50. At that point, they really just want to teach you what they know. Which just isn't an option anymore. There's always a new Excel interface or some new payment application that justifies retraining people. This is not how people evolved.

I lost my last job at age 51, during the '08-'09 crash. Do you know how few jobs welcome older workers? You're lucky if they don't phase you out before you're 60.

I don’t think that generalization is helping anyone. I spend a lot of time, professionally, with people of all ages. And the 50+ are both enjoying their work and being a net positive.

There are many people who do labor-intensive jobs, and they are spent in their 50s. It should be an option. Great if you can and want to keep working, nobody making you retire. We need to be like other countries and have benefits for our citizens.

I don't think the conflation of the people who are happy in their work at 50+ with the people who are forced to work at 50+ is helpful. No one is saying people couldn't work, just that they should not be forced to work terrible jobs just to survive.

My mother is 80+ and works two challenging and fulfilling jobs. They are voluntary positions. The difference is choice.

I agree. My issue was with the statement that people are “spent” at 50. Physically, intellectually or whatever.

Some people are. Things like tough physical work and menopause will do that to you. But it’s not about being spent, it’s about having a meaningful life after your working life before you are spent.

How's it not "enjoying?" It's a weird reply to honest. Being a valuable important team member isn't confined to new ideas. And even if you don't realize it, it reinforces my thesis.

Hell, at 50, I was just getting warmed up.

I take it your career was not labor intensive. Good for you, but other people need to have options.

Um I retired at 74 1/2. After 3+ months I am finally enjoying it... After GO GO GO, it was hard stop after working since I was 14. However, I can now fully recommend retirement when you are ready. It's worth it, took me a few years (LOL) to figure that out.