After reading the Associated Press article about retiring at an older age (Sun Journal, May 9), I thought that the writer should have added some other pertinent facts.

According to Social Security average retirement amounts, a 65-year-old male would get $1,152 per month income, or $13,824 per year. At age 70, the average increases to $1,268 per month, or $15,216 per year. Now, getting an additional $116 per month might look appealing, but there are some significant factors to consider.

In the United States, the average life span has decreased each year for the past several years. Many say it is because, in this country, unlike many others in the world, people work longer hours and more years until retiring. By waiting until age 70 to retire, one might get $1,392 more per year, but by the time a person reaches the normal life expectancy of age 76.1, that person will end up collecting $60,628 less than if that person had started to collect at age 65.

Looks to me like the only winner is the Social Security system.

Richard Proctor, Greene