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

You can claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month depends on when you claim. If you claim at 62, your payment will be roughly 30 percent lower than if you wait until your full retirement age — the age at which Social Security considers you may have access to to your full benefit amount. If you wait even longer, until age 70, your payment increases by about 8 percent for each year you delay past your full retirement age.

Your full retirement age is determined by your birth year. For people born in 1943 or later, it ranges from 66 to 67. The Social Security Administration publishes a table showing the exact age for your birth year on their website. Knowing your full retirement age is the first step in deciding when to claim.

The decision of when to start is yours alone — there is no requirement to claim at any particular age, and no penalty for waiting. However, you cannot claim before 62, and you cannot claim retroactively for months before you file your claim.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced if you claim before your full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67 for people born in 1943 or later.
  • Waiting until age 70 increases your monthly payment by roughly 24 percent compared to claiming at your full retirement age.
  • Once you claim, your benefit amount is locked in — you cannot go back and claim at a different age to get a higher payment, with limited exceptions.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

Social Security uses a schedule based on birth year to set your full retirement age. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1960, your full retirement age is between 66 and 67, increasing by two months for each year of birth. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67.

This schedule exists because Social Security was originally designed when life expectancy was lower. Congress gradually raised the full retirement age starting in 1983 to account for longer lifespans. The age 67 is now the standard for anyone born in 1960 or later, and there are no current plans to raise it further, though that could change through legislation.

You can find your exact full retirement age on the Social Security Administration's website, or by calling their customer service line at 1-800-772-1213. Having this number in front of you before you make any decisions about when to claim is important, because it affects how much your payment will be reduced or increased.

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

If you claim at 62 when your full retirement age is 67, your monthly payment will be about 30 percent lower than your full benefit amount. The exact reduction depends on how many months early you claim. For each month you claim before your full retirement age, your payment is reduced by a small percentage. The reduction is permanent — even after you reach your full retirement age, your payment will not increase to what it would have been if you had waited.

This reduction is called the early claiming reduction, and it is calculated to be roughly actuarially fair — meaning that if you live to an average age, you will receive about the same total amount of money over your lifetime whether you claim at 62 or at your full retirement age. However, if you live longer than average, you will receive less total money by claiming early. If you die before reaching your full retirement age, claiming early means you will have received more total payments.

There is one exception to the permanent reduction rule: if you claim before your full retirement age and then change your mind within 12 months, you can withdraw your claim and repay all the benefits you received. After 12 months, you cannot undo your claim, and the reduction stays in place for life.

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

For each year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, up until age 70, your monthly payment increases by about 8 percent per year. This increase is called delayed retirement credits. If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, your payment will be about 24 percent higher than your full benefit amount.

After age 70, your payment does not increase any further, so there is no financial advantage to waiting past 70 to claim. At that point, you should claim even if you are still working, because you will not receive any additional increase by waiting longer.

Waiting to claim can make sense if you are in good health, expect to live a long time, or do not need the money right away. It can also make sense if you are married, because your spouse may be able to receive a benefit based on your record, and that benefit may be higher if your benefit amount is higher.

Whether you can work while receiving Social Security

If you claim before your full retirement age and continue to work, Social Security will reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above a certain amount. In 2024, that amount is $22,320 per year, but this limit changes annually. The reduction applies only in the years before you reach your full retirement age; once you reach it, you can earn any amount without a reduction.

This earnings test can make claiming at 62 less attractive if you plan to keep working. For example, if you claim at 62 and earn $50,000 per year, your benefit will be reduced by $13,840 in that year. However, Social Security does credit you for the months in which you did not receive a payment — your benefit amount increases slightly when you reach your full retirement age to account for the months you did not collect.

If you are still working and earning a high income, you may want to wait to claim until you stop working or reduce your earnings significantly. There is no penalty for waiting, and your benefit will be higher when you do claim.

How to claim Social Security and what documents you will need

You can claim Social Security online through the Social Security Administration's website, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Online is usually the fastest option if you have a my Social Security account, which you can create on their website.

When you claim, you will need to provide proof of your age (a birth certificate), proof of citizenship or legal residency (a passport or naturalization papers), and proof of your identity (a driver's license or state ID). If you have been married, you may also need divorce decrees or a marriage certificate, depending on your situation. Social Security will tell you which documents you need when you start the process.

The process usually takes a few weeks. Social Security will contact you if they need more information. Once your claim is approved, your first payment will arrive the month after you become may have access to to benefits, usually by direct deposit to your bank account.

Special rules for married people and divorced people

If you are married, your spouse may be able to receive a benefit based on your Social Security record. Your spouse can claim a spousal benefit of up to 50 percent of your full retirement age benefit amount, but only if they are at least 62 years old. The spousal benefit is also reduced if claimed before the spouse's full retirement age.

If you are divorced and were married for at least 10 years, you may be able to claim a benefit based on your ex-spouse's record, even if they have not yet claimed. You must be at least 62 and unmarried. The rules for divorced people are complex and depend on when your ex-spouse was born and whether they have claimed yet, so it is worth contacting Social Security directly to understand your options.

If you are widowed, you may be able to claim survivor benefits at any age if you have dependent children, or at age 60 if you do not. Survivor benefits are calculated differently than retirement benefits and may be higher or lower depending on your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim Social Security if I am still working full-time?

Yes, you can claim at any age 62 or older regardless of your work status. However, if you claim before your full retirement age and earn more than $22,320 per year (in 2024), your benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn any amount without a reduction.

What if I claim at 62 and then change my mind?

You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of claiming and repay all the benefits you received. After 12 months, you cannot undo your claim. If you withdraw, your benefit amount returns to what it would have been if you had never claimed, and you can claim again later at a higher amount.

Does it matter if I claim on my birthday or after?

Your benefit amount is based on the month you claim, not the specific day. If you claim in the month you turn 62, your first payment will be for that month. There is no advantage to waiting until after your birthday to claim in the same month.

What happens to my benefits if I move out of the United States?

You can receive Social Security benefits while living in most countries outside the United States. However, some countries have restrictions, and you will need to report your address to Social Security. Contact Social Security before you move to understand how it affects your benefits.

Can I increase my benefit amount after I start claiming?

Your benefit amount is locked in when you claim and does not increase based on when you claim, except for annual cost-of-living adjustments that apply to all beneficiaries. The only way to get a higher benefit is to withdraw your claim within 12 months and claim again later.