The age when you can start collecting depends on which type of Social Security you're seeking
You can start collecting retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month depends on when you claim. If you wait until your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year — you receive your full benefit amount. If you wait until age 70, your monthly payment increases by about 8 percent for each year you delay past full retirement age.
Disability benefits have no age requirement; you can receive them at any age if you have a severe medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and you have worked long enough to build up work credits. Survivor benefits for family members of a deceased worker also have no age minimum for some family members, though benefits for a surviving spouse caring for children under 16 end when the youngest child turns 16.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not automatically send you money when you reach an age threshold. You must contact SSA and go through a review process before payments begin. The timing of when you contact SSA matters because your claim date determines when your first payment arrives.
Key Takeaways
- You can claim retirement benefits starting at age 62, but waiting until age 70 increases your monthly payment by roughly 24 percent total.
- Your full retirement age — when you receive your standard benefit amount — is 66 or 67 depending on your birth year, not 65.
- Disability benefits have no age requirement if you have a work-limiting medical condition and enough work credits.
- You must contact SSA to start the process; benefits do not begin automatically at any age.
- The month you contact SSA affects when your first payment arrives, so timing your claim matters if you are close to a birthday or milestone date.
Full retirement age and how it affects your payment amount
Your full retirement age is the age at which Social Security pays you 100 percent of your calculated benefit. This age is not 65. For people born in 1943 or later, full retirement age is 66, 67, or somewhere in between, depending on your birth year. The SSA website has a chart showing the exact age for your birth year.
If you claim before full retirement age, your monthly payment is permanently reduced. Claiming at 62 results in roughly a 30 percent reduction compared to waiting until full retirement age. If you claim after full retirement age, your payment increases by about 8 percent per year until age 70, after which it stops increasing.
This means the total amount you receive over your lifetime can be similar whether you claim early or late, because early claimers receive payments for more years but in smaller amounts. However, if you live longer than average, waiting until 70 results in a higher lifetime total. If you expect to live a shorter time due to health conditions, claiming earlier may result in a higher lifetime total.
How many work credits you need to claim retirement or disability benefits
Social Security tracks your work history through work credits, which you earn by paying Social Security taxes on your wages. In 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,730 of wages (this amount changes yearly). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year, regardless of how much you earn above that threshold.
To claim retirement benefits, you need 40 work credits total, which typically means working for at least 10 years. You do not need to have worked those 10 years consecutively; SSA counts all credits you earned throughout your life, even if there are gaps.
To claim disability benefits, the number of credits you need depends on your age when you become disabled. If you are under 24, you may need as few as 6 credits earned in the three years before you became disabled. If you are 31 or older, you typically need 20 credits earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. SSA has a detailed chart on its website for ages 24 to 30.
What happens when you contact Social Security to start your claim
You can contact the SSA by phone at 1-800-772-1213, online at ssa.gov, or in person at your local Social Security office. When you contact them, you will need to provide basic information: your Social Security number, date of birth, and citizenship status. For retirement claims, you will also need your birth certificate and proof of citizenship or legal residency.
p>The SSA will ask you questions about your work history, current income, and family situation. If you are claiming retirement benefits and still working, SSA needs to know your current earnings because benefits are reduced if you earn above a certain amount before reaching full retirement age. For 2024, that limit is $23,400 per year; SSA reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount.After you provide information, SSA reviews your work record and calculates your benefit amount. This review typically takes two to four weeks. SSA will then notify you of your benefit amount and when your first payment will arrive. Your first payment usually arrives one to two months after SSA approves your claim, though the exact timing depends on which month you claim and how SSA processes your case.
Claiming before full retirement age and the earnings limit
If you claim retirement benefits before reaching full retirement age and you continue working, your benefits are reduced based on your earnings. This reduction applies only in the year you claim and in years before you reach full retirement age. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit, and you receive your full benefit amount regardless of how much you earn.
The earnings limit for 2024 is $23,400 per year if you have not yet reached full retirement age. SSA reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above this amount. If you earn $30,000 in a year, for example, you are $6,600 over the limit, so your benefits are reduced by $3,300 that year.
In the year you reach full retirement age, a different rule applies. SSA only counts earnings before the month you reach full retirement age, and the limit is higher: $62,160 for 2024. After the month you reach full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies.
Survivor benefits for family members of a deceased worker
If a worker who paid into Social Security dies, certain family members can receive survivor benefits based on that worker's record. These benefits are available to a surviving spouse age 60 or older, a surviving spouse of any age caring for the worker's child under 16, unmarried children under 19 (or up to 23 if in high school full-time), and parents age 62 or older who depended on the worker for income.
A surviving spouse caring for a child under 16 can receive benefits at any age, but those benefits end when the youngest child turns 16. A surviving spouse age 60 or older receives a reduced benefit; a surviving spouse age 66 or older (the full retirement age for survivors) receives the full survivor benefit amount.
To claim survivor benefits, contact SSA with the worker's Social Security number, your relationship to the worker, and proof of the worker's death (usually a death certificate). SSA will review the worker's earnings record and determine which family members are may have access to to benefits and in what amount.
Disability benefits and the medical review process
To receive disability benefits, you must have a medical condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. SSA does not simply accept your word; they send your medical records to a state agency called Disability information Services (DDS), which reviews your condition against SSA's medical guidelines.
When you contact SSA about disability, you will need to provide medical evidence: doctor's names and addresses, hospital records, test results, and dates of treatment. If you do not have recent medical records, SSA may schedule you for a consultative examination with a doctor they choose, at no cost to you. This examination helps DDS make a information.
The review process typically takes three to six months. SSA will notify you in writing whether you have been approved, denied, or whether they need more information. If you are denied, you have the right to appeal within 60 days. Many people are denied on their first application but approved on appeal, so the appeal process is a normal part of the system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my mind after I start collecting at 62?
Yes, but only within a limited window. If you claim before full retirement age, you can withdraw your application within 12 months and repay all benefits you received. This allows you to restart your claim at a later age and receive a higher monthly amount. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw, though you can suspend your benefits at full retirement age and let them grow until 70.
What if I worked outside the United States?
SSA counts work credits only for wages you earned in the United States where you paid Social Security taxes. Work in other countries does not count toward the 40 credits needed for retirement benefits. However, some countries have agreements with the United States that allow credits from work in those countries to count. Contact SSA to ask whether your country has such an agreement.
Do I lose my benefits if I go back to work after I start collecting?
If you are under full retirement age and earn more than the annual limit ($23,400 in 2024), your benefits are reduced. Once you reach full retirement age, you can work and earn any amount without losing benefits. If you return to work and earn more, SSA recalculates your benefit based on your new earnings record, which may increase your future payments.
How do I know if I have enough work credits?
Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your earnings record and the number of credits you have earned. Your record shows year-by-year earnings and credits. If you see errors, you can dispute them with SSA. Checking your record before you claim helps you know whether you meet the 40-credit requirement for retirement.
What if I am divorced — can I claim on my ex-spouse's record?
Yes, if your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62 years old, and you are not currently married. You can claim on your ex-spouse's record even if they have not yet claimed. Your benefit is based on their earnings record, not your own, and claiming on their record does not reduce their benefits or their spouse's benefits.