The earliest you can claim Social Security retirement is age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced
You can begin 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. The reduction is permanent — it does not increase later.
Your full retirement age is between 66 and 67, depending on the year you were born. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, it is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1959, it falls somewhere in between — the Social Security Administration website has a table showing the exact age for your birth year.
You can also delay claiming past your full retirement age. For each year you wait between full retirement age and age 70, your monthly payment increases by about 8 percent. At age 70, your payment reaches its maximum. After 70, waiting longer does not increase your benefit further.
Key Takeaways
- You can claim Social Security at 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced by roughly 30 percent compared to waiting until full retirement age.
- Your full retirement age is 66 or 67 depending on your birth year, and claiming at that age gives you your standard monthly amount.
- Delaying your claim past full retirement age increases your monthly payment by about 8 percent per year until age 70.
- You must have earned at least 40 work credits (roughly 10 years of work) to be may be able to access for retirement benefits based on your own record.
- You can claim spousal or survivor benefits at different ages than retirement benefits, with their own reduction and increase rules.
Work credits and the 10-year rule
To receive Social Security retirement benefits, you must have earned at least 40 work credits. You earn one credit for each quarter (three-month period) you work and pay Social Security taxes. You can earn up to four credits per year, so 40 credits typically takes about 10 years of work.
The amount you earned in each quarter does not have to be high. In 2024, you earn one credit for each $1,730 in wages (this amount changes yearly). So if you earned $6,920 in a single year, you would earn four credits that year, even if the earnings were spread unevenly across the months.
If you have not worked 10 years, you cannot receive retirement benefits on your own record. You may still be able to receive spousal or survivor benefits if you are married or widowed, but those have separate rules and age requirements.
Spousal and survivor benefits have different age rules
If you are married, you may be able to claim a spousal benefit based on your spouse's work record, even if you have not worked 10 years yourself. The earliest age to claim a spousal benefit is 62, but like retirement benefits, claiming early reduces your monthly payment. Your full retirement age for spousal benefits is the same as your full retirement age for retirement benefits.
If your spouse has already claimed their own retirement benefit, you can claim a spousal benefit at your full retirement age and receive up to 50 percent of what your spouse receives. If you claim before full retirement age, the percentage is lower.
Survivor benefits are paid to your family members if you die. Your spouse can claim survivor benefits as early as age 60 (or age 50 if disabled). Your children can claim at any age if they are under 19 and in high school, or under 16 and not in school. A surviving spouse caring for your child under age 16 can claim at any age. These benefits do not require you to have reached any particular age yourself — they are based on your death.
How your birth year affects your full retirement age
Congress changed the full retirement age in 1983, and the change was phased in over many years. The table below shows the full retirement age for each birth year:
| Birth Year | Full Retirement Age |
|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months |
| 1960 or later | 67 |
If you were born on January 1 of any year, you are considered born in the previous year for Social Security purposes. So if you were born on January 1, 1955, your full retirement age is 66, not 66 and 2 months.
What happens if you claim before full retirement age and still work
If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age and continue to work, Social Security will reduce your benefits based on your earnings. In 2024, for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per year, your benefit is reduced by $1. This reduction applies only in the years before you reach full retirement age.
Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies. You can earn any amount without a reduction to your benefit, even if you claimed early.
This rule can make claiming at 62 less attractive if you plan to keep working. You may receive very little or nothing in benefits until you reach full retirement age, even though you are technically receiving benefits.
How to claim and what documents you will need
You can claim Social Security online through the Social Security Administration website, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. You do not have to wait until you reach your chosen age to start the process — you can contact Social Security a few months before you want benefits to begin.
You will need to provide proof of age (a birth certificate), proof of citizenship or legal residency (a passport or naturalization papers), and proof of income (tax returns or W-2 forms). If you are claiming spousal or survivor benefits, you will also need proof of the relationship (a marriage certificate or death certificate).
The Social Security Administration will review your work record and calculate your benefit amount. This process typically takes a few weeks. Your first payment usually arrives one to three months after you claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my mind after I claim Social Security?
Yes, but only within a limited window. If you claim and then change your mind within 12 months, you can withdraw your claim and repay all benefits received. This resets your claim date. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw, but you can suspend your benefits at full retirement age and let them grow until age 70.
What if I was born outside the United States?
You can still receive Social Security if you have a valid Social Security number and have earned 40 work credits. You will need to provide proof of legal residency or citizenship. Some countries have agreements with the United States that affect how benefits are paid, so contact Social Security directly to learn about your situation.
Do I have to claim Social Security at any particular age?
No. You can claim anytime between 62 and 70, or even later. There is no requirement to claim at any age. However, if you wait past 70, your benefit does not increase further, so there is no financial advantage to waiting beyond 70.
Will my benefit amount change after I start receiving it?
Yes. Your benefit is adjusted each year for inflation, based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This means your monthly payment increases most years, though the amount varies. Your benefit can also change if you continue to work and earn more, because Social Security recalculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings.