Nearly Half of Retirees Leave Work Earlier Than Planned — the 3 Reasons Americans Are Retiring at 62 Instead of 65 The notion that most Americans plan to retire around 65 has been a comforting myth for decades.
However, the numbers tell a different story: nearly half of retirees leave work earlier than planned. One reason for this trend is the growing burden of health problems on lower income workers.
According to data, changes in health status are cited by nearly half of retirees with incomes under $35,000 as the primary reason for retiring early.