The age you can start Social Security depends on when you were born

You can start collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month depends on your birth year and when you claim. The full retirement age — the age at which you receive your complete benefit — ranges from 66 to 67 depending on whether you were born before 1943 or after 1954. If you claim before your full retirement age, your monthly payment is permanently reduced. If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly payment increases by about 8 percent per year until age 70.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses your birth year to determine your full retirement age. This is not the same as the age you can start collecting — it is the age at which you receive 100 percent of your calculated benefit amount. Understanding the difference between these ages helps you decide when to claim based on your health, work plans, and financial needs.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be reduced if you claim before your full retirement age.
  • Full retirement age is 66 for people born between 1943 and 1954, and 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
  • Delaying your claim past full retirement age increases your monthly benefit by roughly 8 percent per year until you reach age 70.
  • Your birth year determines your full retirement age, and the SSA has published tables showing the exact age for each birth cohort.

Full retirement age by birth year

The SSA raised the full retirement age gradually starting in 1983. If you were born in 1943 or earlier, your full retirement age is 65. For people born between 1943 and 1954, full retirement age is 66. For people born between 1955 and 1959, full retirement age increases by two months for each year of birth — so someone born in 1955 has a full retirement age of 66 and 2 months, while someone born in 1959 has a full retirement age of 66 and 10 months.

If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. The SSA stopped raising the full retirement age at 67 and has not changed this threshold since. You can find your exact full retirement age on the SSA's website or by calling 1-800-772-1213 and speaking with a representative. Having your birth certificate or Social Security card handy will speed up the conversation.

How claiming early reduces your monthly benefit

If you claim at 62 — the earliest possible age — your monthly benefit is reduced by about 30 percent compared to what you would receive at full retirement age. The exact reduction depends on your birth year and how many months early you claim. Someone born in 1960 who claims at 62 receives roughly 70 percent of their full retirement age benefit. Someone born in 1943 who claims at 62 receives roughly 80 percent, because the reduction formula is less steep for older birth cohorts.

This reduction is permanent. Even after you reach full retirement age, your monthly payment remains at the reduced amount you locked in when you claimed. The SSA does not increase your benefit later to make up for the years you claimed early. This is why the decision of when to claim matters so much — it affects every payment you receive for the rest of your life.

How delaying past full retirement age increases your benefit

For every year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit grows by about 8 percent per year. This increase stops at age 70 — there is no financial advantage to waiting past 70 to claim. Someone born in 1960 with a full retirement age of 67 who delays until 70 receives about 124 percent of their full retirement age benefit. The longer you live, the more total money you receive by delaying, because the higher monthly payment compounds over time.

Delayed retirement credits are automatic — you do not have to do anything special to earn them. You straightforward do not claim Social Security before age 70. The SSA tracks your age and applies the increase to your benefit amount when you eventually file. If you are still working and earning above a certain threshold, you may want to delay anyway, because the SSA temporarily reduces benefits for people under full retirement age who continue to work.

Earnings limits if you claim before full retirement age and keep working

If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age and continue to work, the SSA reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above an annual limit. For 2024, that limit is $23,400, but this amount changes each year. In the year you reach full retirement age, the reduction is $1 for every $3 earned above a different limit (which is higher), and the reduction only applies to earnings before the month you reach full retirement age.

Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies. You can earn any amount and receive your full Social Security benefit. This is one reason some people delay claiming until they stop working or reduce their hours — the earnings limit can wipe out a significant portion of their benefit if they claim early and stay employed.

How to find your full retirement age

The SSA publishes a table on its website showing the full retirement age for each birth year. You can also use the SSA's online retirement age calculator, which asks for your birth date and when ready displays your full retirement age. If you prefer to speak with someone, call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. Have your Social Security number ready.

You can also visit your local Social Security office in person. To find the office nearest you, use the office locator on the SSA website. Bring a photo ID and your Social Security card or a document showing your Social Security number. The office staff can answer questions about your specific situation, including how much your benefit would be at different claiming ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim Social Security at 62 even if my full retirement age is 67?

Yes. Age 62 is the earliest age anyone can claim, regardless of birth year. Your benefit will be permanently reduced — roughly 30 percent lower than your full retirement age amount — but you can claim at 62 if you choose to.

What happens if I claim at 65 when my full retirement age is 67?

Your benefit is reduced, but not as much as if you claimed at 62. The reduction is roughly 13 to 14 percent. You can claim at any age between 62 and 70, and your benefit adjusts based on exactly how many months early or late you claim.

Does my full retirement age change if I keep working past 62?

No. Your full retirement age is determined by your birth year and does not change. Working longer does not change the age at which you reach full retirement age, though it may increase your benefit amount because the SSA recalculates benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings.

Is there a penalty for claiming Social Security after age 70?

No. Your benefit stops growing at age 70, so there is no financial advantage to waiting past 70. However, some people delay past 70 for other reasons, such as not needing the money yet or wanting to leave a larger survivor benefit for a spouse.

Can I change my mind after I claim Social Security?

You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of filing and repay all benefits received, which resets your account as if you never claimed. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw. You can suspend your benefits at full retirement age and resume them later at a higher amount, but this option is no longer available to people born after January 1, 1954.