Key Points The obvious indication you're ready to claim Social Security is that you've reached your full retirement age. Other signs include having sufficient other income sources for retirement. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › One of the most important retirement decisions you'll make is when to claim Social Security benefits. It's a decision you definitely want to get right. A mistake could weigh on you for the rest of your life. Are you really ready to star ...