Do I get more Social Security if I retire at 63 instead of 62?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

You will generally only get money back if your policy has a "cash surrender value" or if you are within the mandatory "free-look" period provided by state law or your insurer. For most people with basic term life insurance, there is no money back because the product is an expense for a service (death benefit protection) rather than an investment vehicle. If you have been paying for a whole life or universal life policy for several years, you may have accumulated equity in the form of cash value. Upon cancellation, the insurer will pay you that cash value, but it is rarely the full sum of all the premiums you have ever paid, as insurance companies deduct costs for the protection you received over those years, plus any administrative fees and penalties. If you are considering cancellation, you should request an "in-force illustration" or surrender value report from your insurance company to see what, if anything, would be returned to you before you finalize your decision to terminate coverage.

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