Should I take CPP at age 60, even though I only have a small pension and no other investments?

Ryan is closing in on 60, still carrying a mortgage, and wondering whether to switch on his Canada Pension Plan benefit the moment he's eligible. The pull is understandable: take the cheque now, knock down the mortgage, and feel the relief sooner. But CPP can begin anywhere from 60 to 70, and the longer you hold off the larger the monthly amount becomes, so starting early locks in a permanently smaller benefit. This piece works through that trade-off when there's little else to fall back on, weighing guaranteed debt reduction against a richer lifetime pension, and folding in health, life expectancy, and how the income will actually be used. It speaks to anyone with a modest pension and few investments who's trying to decide whether to claim CPP early or let it grow.