You can sign up for Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the month you were born determines your full retirement age, and waiting past that age increases your monthly payment

The Social Security Administration does not require you to sign up at any particular age. You choose when to start. The earliest you can receive retirement benefits is the month you turn 62. Your full retirement age — the age at which you receive your full benefit amount — depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67 for people born after 1954. If you wait past your full retirement age, your monthly payment grows by roughly 8 percent per year until age 70, when payments stop increasing.

The decision of when to sign up is yours alone and depends on your health, finances, and life circumstances. There is no single "right" age. Someone who needs income now may sign up at 62 even though the monthly amount will be smaller for life. Someone with a long family history of longevity might wait until 70 to maximize lifetime income. Both choices are legal and common.

Key Takeaways

  • You can sign up for retirement benefits starting the month you turn 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced if you claim before your full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year, and this is when you receive your full benefit amount.
  • Waiting to sign up past your full retirement age increases your monthly payment by about 8 percent per year until age 70.
  • You can sign up online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office.
  • The Social Security Administration processes applications over several weeks, so plan ahead if you want benefits to start on a specific date.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The Social Security Administration uses a table based on your birth year to calculate your full retirement age. If you were born in 1954 or earlier, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1959, your full retirement age is between 66 and 2 months and 66 and 10 months, depending on the exact year. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67.

Your full retirement age matters because it is the threshold where your monthly payment stops being reduced for early claiming. If you sign up before this age, your payment is reduced by a percentage that depends on how many months early you claim. If you sign up after this age, your payment increases. You can find your exact full retirement age on the Social Security Administration website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

What happens if you sign up before your full retirement age

Claiming before your full retirement age means your monthly payment is permanently reduced. The reduction is steeper the earlier you claim. If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, your payment is roughly 30 percent lower than it would be at 67. If you claim at 65, the reduction is roughly 13 percent. This reduction stays in place for the rest of your life, even after you reach your full retirement age.

There is one exception: if you are still working and earning above a certain amount, the Social Security Administration will withhold part of your benefit. In 2024, if you have not yet reached your full retirement age, benefits are reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per year. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit and no withholding. This rule applies only in the years before you reach full retirement age.

What happens if you wait past your full retirement age

Each year you delay signing up past your full retirement age, your monthly payment increases by roughly 8 percent. This increase continues until age 70. If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, your monthly payment will be about 24 percent higher than it would be at 67. This higher amount is also permanent and continues for the rest of your life.

Waiting past full retirement age makes financial sense if you expect to live into your mid-80s or beyond, because the higher monthly payment will eventually add up to more total money received over your lifetime. It makes less sense if you have health problems or a family history of shorter lifespans. The Social Security Administration has published breakeven calculators on its website to help you think through this decision.

How to sign up for Social Security retirement benefits

You can sign up through three methods: online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. The online method is usually fastest. You will need your Social Security number, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and your bank account information so benefits can be deposited directly.

The Social Security Administration typically processes applications within two to four weeks, though it can take longer during busy periods. You can ask for your benefits to start in a specific month, but you must sign up at least four months before that month. For example, if you want benefits to start in June, you should sign up by February. If you sign up late, benefits will start the month you apply, and you cannot receive back pay for months you did not sign up.

Special situations: Divorced spouses, survivors, and disability

If you were married for at least 10 years and are now divorced, you may be able to sign up for benefits based on your ex-spouse's work record even if they have not yet signed up themselves. You must be at least 62 and divorced for at least two years. Your ex-spouse does not need to agree, and they will not be told you are receiving benefits on their record.

If your spouse has died, you may be able to sign up for survivor benefits at any age if you are caring for their child under 16, or at age 60 if you are not. If you are disabled, you may be able to sign up for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) before age 62, though the rules and application process are different from retirement benefits. Contact the Social Security Administration directly to learn whether you may be may be able to access for these programs.

What to do if you change your mind after signing up

If you sign up and then change your mind, you have limited options. Within 12 months of signing up, you can withdraw your application and repay all benefits you received. This resets your record as if you never signed up, and you can sign up again later at a different age. You can withdraw only once in your lifetime.

After 12 months have passed, you cannot withdraw your application. However, if you have reached your full retirement age, you can suspend your benefits, which stops payments and allows your benefit amount to grow. When you restart benefits later, your payment will be higher. This option is available only if you have reached your full retirement age.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sign up for Social Security before I stop working?

Yes. You can sign up at any age starting at 62, whether you are still working or not. However, if you have not yet reached your full retirement age and you earn above the annual limit, the Social Security Administration will withhold part of your benefit. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can work and receive your full benefit with no earnings limit.

What if I was born on January 1st?

The Social Security Administration treats people born on January 1st as if they were born on December 31st of the previous year. This affects which birth year table is used to calculate your full retirement age. You can confirm your exact full retirement age by calling 1-800-772-1213 or checking ssa.gov.

Can I sign up for my spouse's benefits instead of my own?

If you were born before January 2, 1954, you may be able to sign up for spousal benefits while delaying your own benefits to grow. If you were born on or after that date, you will receive a combined benefit based on both your record and your spouse's, but you cannot choose one over the other. The Social Security Administration can explain your specific options based on your birth date.

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

You can receive Social Security benefits while living in most countries. However, benefits are suspended if you move to certain countries, including Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and a few others. If you plan to move abroad, contact the Social Security Administration before you go so they can explain how your benefits will be affected.

Do I need to sign up by a certain age or lose my benefits?

No. You can sign up for retirement benefits at any age from 62 onward. There is no deadline or age limit. However, if you wait past 70, your benefit amount stops increasing, so there is no financial reason to delay beyond age 70.