When you retire can have a big impact on how much Social Security you receive. In some cases, working just a little longer can make a big difference to your benefits.
In the following video, Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool's director of investment planning, looks at two situations where when you retire has huge implications for your Social Security benefits. Dan notes that the most important thing is making sure you have a 10-year work history to qualify for benefits in the first place; so if you're just a year or two short, it could give you a substantial reward for staying in work for a while longer. Moreover, even if you've worked more than 10 years, Dan notes that Social Security looks at a 35-year work history, so extra work can fill in the zeros in your career earnings and enhance your benefits.
