When would you like to retire and collect your Social Security benefits? If you're like most people who responded to a recent FlexJobs survey, you'd like to do so before you turn 67.

Seventy-seven percent of the survey's respondents indicated that they think "people should be allowed to retire and access their Social Security benefits" prior to 67. Specifically, 33% of those polled named 60 to 64 as their preferred age range concerning that question.

Two age ranges -- 55 to 59 and 65 to 66 -- garnered the same percentage amount (22%) of support for the idea of early retirement. As for the existing retirement age of 67 (for those born in or after 1960), 17% opted for it. Raising the retirement age was not popular among the respondents. Only 2% voted for the 68 to 69 range, and 4% voted for 70 and above as being their preferred range.

Martha Shedden, president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, explained to GOBankingRates in an email that while some people might want to start collecting their retirement benefits earlier than age 67, usually, there aren't talks about lowering the retirement collecting age.

"This is because most of the media, and those of us helping clients with their Social Security, are focused on the solvency of the Social Security trust funds -- specifically, not being able to pay full benefits if changes are not made to the program by 2033/2034," Shedden explained. "So, the effort is directed at ways to extend the longevity of the trust funds and lowering the earliest age to collect would not help that."

However, Shedden wrote that workers can currently begin collecting their benefits once they turn 62 -- and their survivor's benefits when they're 60.

"So perhaps considering an even further reduction to allow collecting at even younger ages could be studied by the SSA actuaries," Shedden explained.

Additionally, Shedden emphasized that people can retire from the workforce whenever they have the means to do so, and choose to "collect retirement benefits at another, later time."

"All individuals can currently access their Social Security benefits five years prior to the age of 67, but at a reduced amount," she noted.

If you're thinking about stepping away from the workforce sometime five years before you turn 67 -- and collecting Social Security retirement benefits at a lower amount -- there might be certain reasons that would make it advantageous for you to do so, Shedden wrote.

First, consider your potential life expectancy. Shedden wrote that if your health or family history "hints at a relatively short" one, then claiming your Social Security benefits early would mean getting a lower amount each month, but getting more payments for the rest of your life.

You should also evaluate whether or not you need the money.

"If claiming your Social Security benefits early is the only realistic way to pay your bills, then go ahead and claim," Shedden noted. "Claiming early beats going into debt, especially if that debt carries steep interest rates."

If you're a widower, it's important to weigh that factor as well, Shedden suggested.

"Many widows and widowers are eligible for two different Social Security benefits -- their own retirement benefit based on their earnings history -- or a 'survivor's benefit' based on their late spouses' earning history," she explained. "Survivor benefits can be collected as early as age 60. They can't claim both at the same time, but they can claim one and later switch to the other, and that opens the door to a strategy that includes claiming early."

If this scenario applies to you, you should also take any adult children who became disabled before turning 22 and minor children ("up to age 18, or 19 if still in high school") into account if you're thinking about collecting your Social Security benefits sooner, Shedden indicated. For instance, according to the Social Security Administration, an adult "who has a disability that began before age 22 may be eligible for benefits if their parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits."

"Older parents, if you're receiving your Social Security benefits and you still have young children, those children could qualify for benefits of their own based on your earnings history," Shedden wrote. "These extra benefits can provide a powerful incentive for these family members to start their benefits early -- the younger your kids are when you start your Social Security benefits, the more monthly payments they'll receive before they're too old to qualify."

The flip side, however, is that there can also be disadvantages to collecting your Social Security benefits early at a lower amount, Shedden noted.

For one, if, based on your health or family history, you expect to live longer, then claiming your benefits down the line might be a better decision, she explained.

"People who claim their benefits later, up to age 70, receive larger monthly Social Security payments, but fewer of them over their lifetime," Shedden wrote. "Also, if your top priority is reducing risk and you don't have an annuity or traditional pension, your Social Security benefits might be the only component of your retirement portfolio that's guaranteed to supply income as long as you're alive. Waiting to claim increases the size of these guaranteed benefits, thus reducing the risk that you'll outlive your retirement assets."

It's also important to take any other retirement funds, investments and savings you might have that can "bridge the income gap" until you reach 67, she emphasized.

"If able to supplement your income while waiting to claim your Social Security benefits later, you will be guaranteeing a larger income later in life and will also be providing that benefit to your partner/spouse if you are the higher earner," she explained.

If you earn more than your spouse, and your partner "is significantly younger than you," that's another reason you might want to hold off on claiming your benefits early, Shedden added.

"This is since the survivor, most likely the lower earner, younger spouse, will benefit greatly from the increased survivor benefits later in life due to your higher benefits," she wrote.

Additionally, Shedden reiterated that if you're widowed, claiming your survivor's benefits early can be a strategic move.

"Survivor benefits are the only ones that can be claimed early at age 60, even if they are a lesser amount than the survivor's own retirement benefit or a spousal benefit," Shedden explained. "Claiming one early and later switching to the other when it becomes a higher benefit takes advantage of this strategy."