The earliest you can claim Social Security is age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently smaller than if you wait

You can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. However, the amount you receive each month depends on when you claim. If you claim at 62, your monthly payment will be roughly 30 percent lower than if you wait until your full retirement age. If you wait until age 70, your payment will be roughly 24 percent higher than your full retirement age amount. The longer you wait, the larger your monthly check — but you receive fewer total checks over your lifetime if you die early.

Your full retirement age — the age at which you receive your complete benefit amount — depends on your birth year. For people born in 1943 or later, full retirement age ranges from 66 to 67. The Social Security Administration publishes a chart showing the exact age for your birth year on its website.

You do not have to claim at any particular age. You can work past 62, past your full retirement age, or even past 70 if you choose. There is no deadline to claim, though waiting past 70 does not increase your benefit further.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced compared to waiting until your full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age — when you receive your complete benefit amount — is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year.
  • Waiting until age 70 gives you the highest possible monthly payment, but you receive fewer total payments if you die before recouping the difference.
  • If you continue working after claiming, your benefits may be temporarily reduced until you reach your full retirement age, depending on your earnings.
  • You can change your claim decision within a limited window, but the rules for doing so depend on your age and how long ago you claimed.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The Social Security Administration raised the full retirement age gradually starting in 2000. If you were born before 1943, your full retirement age is 65. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born in 1955 or later, your full retirement age is 67.

For people born between 1943 and 1960, the full retirement age falls somewhere between 66 and 67, increasing by two months for each birth year. For example, if you were born in 1950, your full retirement age is 66 and 8 months. The Social Security Administration website has a table showing the exact age for each birth year, or you can call 1-800-772-1213 to ask.

What happens to your payment if you claim before full retirement age

Claiming at 62 instead of your full retirement age reduces your monthly benefit by roughly 30 percent. The exact reduction depends on how many months early you claim. Claiming at 63 reduces it by roughly 25 percent. Claiming at 64 reduces it by roughly 20 percent. These reductions are permanent — your payment will never increase to what it would have been if you had waited.

If you claim before your full retirement age and continue working, your benefits may be temporarily reduced further based on your earnings. For 2024, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per year. Once you reach your full retirement age, this earnings limit no longer applies, and your full benefit resumes even if you keep working.

What happens to your payment if you wait past full retirement age

For each year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by roughly 8 percent per year. If your full retirement age is 66 and you wait until 67, your benefit increases by 8 percent. If you wait until 70, your benefit is roughly 32 percent higher than it would have been at 66. This increase stops at age 70 — waiting past 70 does not raise your benefit further.

Waiting until 70 gives you the highest possible monthly payment. However, you receive fewer total payments over your lifetime. Whether waiting makes financial sense depends on your health, family history, and how long you expect to live. Someone in excellent health with a family history of longevity may come out ahead by waiting. Someone with serious health problems may receive more total money by claiming at 62.

How spousal and survivor benefits work with your claim age

If you are married, your spouse may be able to receive a benefit based on your work record. The amount your spouse receives depends on their age when they claim and your full retirement age benefit amount. A spouse can claim as early as 62, but their benefit will be reduced. A spouse who waits until their own full retirement age receives roughly 32 percent of your full retirement age benefit.

If you die, your family members — including your spouse, children, and parents in some cases — may receive survivor benefits based on your work record. The total amount all family members can receive is capped at roughly 150 to 180 percent of what you would have received. This means claiming early reduces not only your payment but also the total amount available to your family if you die.

Changing your claim decision

If you claimed Social Security and later regret the decision, you have limited options to change it. If you claimed within the past 12 months, you can withdraw your claim and repay all the benefits you received. Once you withdraw, your claim is cancelled as if it never happened, and you can claim again later at a higher amount. You must repay the full amount you received, including any benefits paid to family members on your record.

If you claimed more than 12 months ago, you cannot withdraw your claim. However, if you have reached your full retirement age, you can suspend your benefits and let them grow until age 70. While your benefits are suspended, you do not receive payments, but your benefit amount increases by 8 percent per year. Family members receiving benefits on your record can continue to receive them while yours are suspended.

How to report your age and claim Social Security

You do not automatically receive Social Security when you turn 62 or reach any other age. You must contact the Social Security Administration to claim. You can apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. The application asks for your birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and your tax identification number.

The Social Security Administration typically makes a decision on your claim within two to four weeks. If you apply online, you can check the status of your application on your my Social Security account. If you apply by phone or in person, you will receive a notice in the mail telling you whether your claim was approved and when your first payment will arrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work and receive Social Security at the same time?

Yes, but if you claim before your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced based on your earnings. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can work and receive your full benefit with no reduction, regardless of how much you earn.

What if I was born outside the United States?

You can still receive Social Security if you have a valid work history in the United States. You will need to show proof of legal residency or citizenship. Some countries have agreements with the United States that allow people to count work done in both countries toward their benefit.

Does claiming Social Security affect my Medicare?

You become may be able to access for Medicare at 65 regardless of whether you claim Social Security. However, if you delay claiming Social Security past 65, you should still sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period to avoid paying higher premiums later.

What happens if I claim and then go back to work full-time?

If you claimed before your full retirement age and return to work, your benefits will be reduced based on your earnings that year. Report your expected earnings to Social Security so they can adjust your payments accordingly. Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies.

Can I receive Social Security if I never worked?

You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years to receive retirement benefits on your own record. However, you may be able to receive benefits as a spouse or survivor based on someone else's work record, even if you never worked yourself.