This may be an option for people that delay their social security benefits. If I understand the article correctly say an individual plans to delay their benefits until 68 or 70 and they are expecting their monthly payments to be $2,000. Things happen in life and at age 69 you need money. You can request a lump sum payment based on what you would have received at age 66. The downside would be your future benefits would be decreased to what you would have been entitled to if you just started collecting at 66 instead delaying. If something happens and you need immediate cash this is kind of a mulligan. A Windfall From Social Security? - Yahoo Finance