The bubonic plague was a painful disease, with black buboes, or swellings, in the groin and armpits, which lasted up to a week. There was some chance of surviving if the buboes burst.
As of 2015, full retirement age is 67 if you were born after 1960. The amount you receive doesn't change because disability benefits were calculated based on what you would receive at retirement age. However, you may see an increase if Social Security provides a cost of living increase.
The earliest you can apply for Social Security retirement is three months before you turn age 62 to receive your first check in the month you become 62 years old. When you apply for Social Security after age 62, you can designate the month you want benefits to begin from the current month up to four months in the future. Social Security benefits are paid in the month after they are earned, so if you elect to start your retirement benefits for the current month, the first check will arrive next month. As a result, you can delay applying for Social Security on a month-to-month basis until the month before you want to get your first payment.