Can I retire at 62 with no savings?

Asked by: Julie Olson  |  Last update: April 11, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (61 votes)

If you retire with no money, you'll have to consider ways to create income to pay for your living expenses. That might include applying for Social Security retirement benefits, getting a reverse mortgage if you own a home, or starting a side hustle or part-time job to generate a steady paycheck.

How to retire at 62 with no money?

10 Things To Do If You Want To Retire Soon But Have No Savings
  1. Go through your expenses and look for ways to cut back. ...
  2. Take advantage of tax-sheltered retirement accounts. ...
  3. Try to pay off your debts by the time you retire. ...
  4. See how much you qualify for in Social Security benefits. ...
  5. Become an expat. ...
  6. Work longer.

What happens if I retire with no savings?

Many retirees with little to no savings rely solely on Social Security as their main source of income. You can claim Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but your benefit amount will depend on when you start filing for the benefit. You get less than your full benefit if you file before your full retirement age.

How much do you need saved to retire at 62?

Experts suggest saving eight to ten times one's annual income by age 62, but many Americans must catch up, making careful planning necessary. Inflation and investment returns significantly impact your retirement savings, so a diversified portfolio is crucial in maintaining purchasing power.

What percentage of people retire with no savings?

New Study Confirms: 20 Percent of Americans over Age 50 Have No Retirement Savings at All. Episode 288 – A new study by AARP confirms what so many people have long suspected: Retirement insecurity is real. In fact, 20 percent of Americans over age 50 have no retirement savings at all.

Retire at 60? Shocking Average Savings vs. The REAL Number You Need (Spoiler: It's Different!)

41 related questions found

How many 60 year olds have nothing saved for retirement?

About 27% of people who are 59 or older have no retirement savings, according to a new survey from financial services firm Credit Karma. To be sure, that's the same share as the overall population, yet boomers have less time to save for retirement given that the generation is now between the ages of 59 to 77 years old.

How many people regret not saving for retirement?

Overall, 22% of Americans said not saving for retirement early enough is their top financial regret. Older generations, who are closest to retirement, were more likely to cite not starting to save early enough as their biggest regret than younger generations.

What is the #1 reason to take Social Security at 62?

Those facing financial emergencies, such as a layoff or debt, may benefit from accessing Social Security early. If you retire early and need extra income, Social Security benefits can provide supplemental funds to support your new lifestyle, hobbies or retirement activities.

Is 62 too late to save for retirement?

It's never too late to start saving money you will use in retirement. However, the older you get, the more constraints—like required minimum distributions (RMDs)—will limit your options. The good news is many people have much more time than they think.

How much will I get a month if I retire at 62?

Here's how the maximum Social Security retirement benefit breaks down in 2024: Retired at earliest retirement age (62): $2,710 per month. Retired at full retirement age: $3,822 per month. Retired at age 70: $4,873 per month.

How do people live with no retirement savings?

Individuals who have not saved for retirement and who still own homes can turn to their homes as a source of income. For some, this could mean renting a portion of their space as a separate apartment. Another option is to take a reverse mortgage on a home, although doing so can be costly and complicated.

What happens to old people with no savings?

Aging adults without money to support them through the rest of their lives can stay in a nursing home for up to 100 days—and Medicaid will cover the cost for this brief period. Seniors who reside in an assisted living facility and run out of funds will be evicted.

What if I haven't saved enough for retirement?

For those who have not saved enough (including my daughter, whose retirement plan to win the lottery has yet to materialize), the AARP and EBRI websites offer strategies to increase your savings, ranging from the obvious, such as save more and work longer (it not only gives you more time to save more, it reduces the ...

What happens to people who don't save for retirement?

Unless you have a secret plan to get free money or you're lucky enough to hit the lottery, not saving enough for retirement will leave you scrambling to get by in old age. At the very least, you'll need to work longer or make serious adjustments to your lifestyle to get by.

Is $1500 a month enough to retire?

It's Possible To Retire on a $1,500 Monthly Budget

But with a little creativity and flexibility, you may find a new home with everything you want, including a good climate, welcoming community and affordable lifestyle. Depending on exactly what you're looking for, any of these five options could be the perfect match.

Is it a mistake to retire at 62?

There's nothing wrong with that! But plenty of people are. If you're living debt-free, or close to it, and you've already got plenty of assets that can be used for your retirement income, there's no reason to delay your retirement any longer than you need to.

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.

What does Suze Orman say about taking Social Security at 62?

If you haven't made plans to delay claiming your Social Security at that point, chances are you will just go ahead and start at 62. It takes planning to be able to delay starting to collect your benefit. Maybe working a bit longer, at least part-time.

Is there a penalty for retiring at 62?

A worker can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a reduction of as much as 30 percent. Starting to receive benefits after normal retirement age may result in larger benefits. With delayed retirement credits, a person can receive his or her largest benefit by retiring at age 70.

Why smart people take Social Security at 62?

Assuming your full retirement age is 67, if you file for those retirement benefits at 62, you'll receive around 70% of your full retirement age benefit amount. If you file for disability and are awarded those benefits, the amount that you would receive would be 100% of your full retirement age benefit, even at 62.

What is the average Social Security check at age 62?

If people born after 1960 claim their benefits the month they turn 62, they'll get only 70% of what they would have received had they waited until the full retirement age of 67. The average monthly payment of $1,784 drops by 30% during the first month of eligibility to $1,247.40.

When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?

If your spouse dies, do you get both Social Security benefits? You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement. If you qualify for both survivor and retirement benefits, you will receive whichever amount is higher.

What is the #1 regret of retirees?

More than two-thirds of retirees wish they would have saved more and on a consistent basis — and half wish they hadn't waited so long “to concern themselves with saving and investing for retirement,” according to the researchers.

How many Americans have no retirement savings?

Yet, nearly 57 million people do not have access to a retirement plan at work.

What is the biggest financial mistakes that retirees make?

6 Financial Mistakes You'll Regret When You're Older
  1. Not saving enough. ...
  2. Avoiding the stock market. ...
  3. Claiming Social Security benefits too early. ...
  4. Spoiling the kids and grandkids. ...
  5. Getting bad advice. ...
  6. Ignoring long-term care.