DEBUNKING THE SOCIAL SECURITY MYTH They tell you to wait— hold off until 70, and you’ll get a bigger check. But here’s what they don’t tell you: They’re betting you won’t make it. The Big Gamble They make waiting sound smart. Responsible. But the math says otherwise: Average life expectancy for men: 76.1 ¹ For women: 81.1 ¹ Break-even age for delaying? 80 ² Half of retirees never reach the break-even