Assuming you qualify for Social Security, you can begin collecting "early retirement" payments at age 62. (Widows, widowers and disabled persons can sometimes collect sooner.)
But you will receive a much larger benefit if you can afford to delay until you reach "full retirement age" (somewhere between 65 and 67, depending on when you were born) or later - and working in retirement might allow you to do just that. For more, see What's the best age to start getting Social Security payouts?
