Arizona Republic:  For most of us, Social Security requires few decisions and minimal involvement. Employers deduct payroll taxes automatically, or you make payments on self-employed income through the Internal Revenue Service. The government takes over from there, sending out yearly statements providing a glimpse of what your future benefits might be.

But there is one critical decision that recipients must make, and it’s tricky: What’s the right age to start tapping retirement money?

For many people, the answer to that question is “as soon as possible.”