Touching the Third Rail: Time to Return the Retirement Age for Early Social Security Benefits to 65

In an editorial, Burkhauser argues that returning the age of first eligibility for Social Security benefits to age 65, where it was before 1961, is better than cutting yearly benefits. This move will not dramatically lower the economic well-being of the typical person aged 62, since most men and women that age are neither in poor health nor dependent on Social Security benefits alone for their income.