But if you claimed Social Security early and are now thinking about going back to work, you'll need to be careful. Though you're allowed to start working again, earning too much money could cause your Social Security checks to shrink in the near term.

When you've spent four decades or more in the workforce, it's understandable to be drawn to the idea of claiming those monthly checks at 62.

If you're planning to retire soon and assuming your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is either 65 or 67, you might be surprised to learn that the correct answer for many Americans is actu