You can collect Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be smaller than if you wait
The earliest you can start collecting retirement Social Security is age 62. However, if you claim at 62, your monthly payment will be permanently reduced — typically 30 percent less than what you would receive at your full retirement age. The later you wait to claim, the larger your monthly payment becomes, up until age 70, when the payment stops increasing.
Your full retirement age — the age at which you receive your full benefit amount — depends on the year you were born. For people born in 1943 through 1954, full retirement age is 66. For those born in 1955 through 1959, it ranges from 66 and 2 months to 66 and 10 months. For people born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. If you claim at your full retirement age, you receive 100 percent of your benefit.
If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your payment increases by about 8 percent per year until you reach age 70. At age 70, the increase stops, so there is no financial reason to wait longer than that to claim.
Key Takeaways
- You can claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced by roughly 30 percent.
- Your full retirement age — when you receive your full benefit amount — is between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year.
- Waiting to claim until age 70 increases your monthly payment by about 8 percent per year compared to claiming at full retirement age.
- You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) to be may have access to to retirement benefits on your own record.
- If you are still working when you claim before full retirement age, your benefits may be reduced if your earnings exceed a certain limit.
How your birth year determines your full retirement age
Social Security uses your birth year to calculate your full retirement age. This age is not the same for everyone, because Congress changed the law in 1983 and phased in a gradual increase over time.
| 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, you are considered to have been born in the previous year for Social Security purposes. Your Social Security statement, which you can view on ssa.gov, shows your exact full retirement age.
What happens if you claim before your full retirement age
Claiming at 62 instead of your full retirement age reduces your monthly payment for the rest of your life. The reduction is not temporary — it is permanent. For someone with a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 means a payment reduction of about 30 percent. The exact percentage depends on how many months early you claim.
If you are still working when you claim before full retirement age, Social Security will reduce your benefit further if your earnings exceed a limit. For 2024, the limit is $23,400 per year. For every $2 you earn above that limit, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit. This earnings test applies only until you reach your full retirement age; after that, you can earn any amount without a reduction.
Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings test no longer applies, and your benefit amount is recalculated to account for the months you did not receive a payment. This recalculation, called a deemed filing adjustment, partially restores some of the reduction you took by claiming early.
What happens if you delay claiming past your full retirement age
For each year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly payment increases by about 8 percent per year. This increase continues until age 70. If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70 to claim, your payment will be about 24 percent higher than your full retirement age amount.
Delaying makes the most financial sense if you expect to live into your mid-80s or beyond. The longer you live, the more total money you will receive over your lifetime by waiting. If you have health concerns or a family history of shorter lifespans, claiming earlier may result in more total lifetime benefits, even though your monthly payment is smaller.
There is no financial advantage to waiting past age 70 to claim. Your payment stops increasing at that point, so delaying further does not increase your benefit.
How much you need to have worked to receive benefits
To receive Social Security retirement benefits on your own work record, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years. Social Security measures this in quarters of coverage. You earn one quarter for each $1,640 you earn in a year (this amount changes annually). You can earn a maximum of four quarters per year, so 10 years of work equals 40 quarters.
The work does not have to be continuous or recent. If you worked 10 years at any point in your life and paid Social Security taxes, you have earned the right to a retirement benefit. Your benefit amount is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation.
If you have fewer than 40 quarters, you cannot receive a retirement benefit on your own record. However, you may be able to receive a benefit based on a spouse's or ex-spouse's work record, depending on your age and marital status.
Spousal and survivor benefits have different claiming ages
If you are married, divorced, or widowed, you may be able to receive a benefit based on your spouse's or ex-spouse's work record. The rules for when you can claim these benefits are different from retirement benefits.
A spousal benefit allows you to receive up to 50 percent of your spouse's full retirement age benefit amount. You can claim a spousal benefit as early as age 62, but like retirement benefits, claiming early reduces your payment. You must be married to claim a spousal benefit, unless you are claiming on an ex-spouse's record, in which case you must have been married for at least 10 years and be at least 62 years old.
A survivor benefit is paid to your family members if you die. Your spouse, ex-spouse, children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school), and dependent parents may all be may have access to to a portion of your benefit. Survivor benefits can be claimed at any age for children and at age 60 for a surviving spouse (or age 50 if disabled).
How to claim and what documents you will need
You can claim Social Security online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. You do not have to wait until your birthday to claim; you can apply up to four months before the month you want your benefits to start.
When you claim, you will need to provide proof of your age (a birth certificate), proof of citizenship or legal residency (a passport or green card), and proof of your identity (a driver's license or state ID). If you are claiming a spousal or survivor benefit, you will also need to provide proof of your marital status (a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or death certificate).
After you submit your claim, Social Security typically makes a decision within two to three weeks. You will receive a notice in the mail explaining whether you were approved and when your payments will start. Your first payment usually arrives within one to two months after your claim is approved.
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 the benefits you received. This resets your claim, and you can claim again later at a higher payment amount. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw your claim, but you can suspend your benefits at your full retirement age and let them grow until age 70.
What if I am still working when I turn 62?
You can claim at 62 even if you are still working. However, if your earnings exceed the annual limit (currently $23,400), Social Security will reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. This reduction applies only until you reach your full retirement age. After that, you can earn any amount without a reduction to your benefit.
How is my benefit amount calculated?
Social Security calculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. The agency then applies a formula that replaces a higher percentage of lower earnings and a lower percentage of higher earnings. Your exact benefit amount is shown on your Social Security statement, which you can view at ssa.gov by creating a my Social Security account.
What happens to my benefits if I move out of the country?
You can receive Social Security benefits while living outside the United States, with some exceptions. Citizens of certain countries cannot receive benefits while living there. If you plan to move abroad, contact Social Security before you leave to understand how your benefits will be affected and what reporting requirements apply.
Can I receive Social Security and a pension at the same time?
Yes, you can receive both. However, if your pension is from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes (such as some government jobs), a rule called the Government Pension Offset may reduce your spousal or survivor benefit. Your retirement benefit itself is not affected by a pension.