The earliest and full retirement ages for Social Security

You can start collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month depends on when you claim. The full retirement age — the age at which you receive your complete benefit amount — is between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year. If you wait until age 70 to claim, your monthly payment will be significantly higher than if you claim at 62.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets these ages based on your birth date. Someone born in 1943 or earlier has a full retirement age of 65. Someone born between 1943 and 1954 has a full retirement age between 66 and 66 months. Anyone born in 1960 or later has a full retirement age of 67. The SSA publishes a full chart on its website showing the exact age for each birth year.

Claiming before your full retirement age means a permanent reduction in your monthly benefit. Claiming after your full retirement age means a permanent increase. This trade-off between claiming early and receiving less per month, or waiting longer and receiving more per month, is the central decision most people face.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be reduced by roughly 25 to 30 percent compared to waiting until full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year, and the Social Security Administration publishes a chart showing your specific age.
  • Waiting until age 70 increases your monthly benefit by roughly 24 to 32 percent compared to claiming at full retirement age, and this increase continues for life.
  • You must have earned enough work credits — typically 40 credits over your lifetime, with at least 10 years of work — to claim retirement benefits at any age.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The full retirement age has shifted over time because Congress changed the law in 1983. People born before 1938 have a full retirement age of 65. Starting with people born in 1938, the full retirement age began to increase by two months per birth year, then by four months per birth year for those born between 1943 and 1954.

The increase stopped at age 67 for people born in 1960 or later. This means if you were born in 1955, your full retirement age is 66 and 2 months. If you were born in 1959, your full retirement age is 66 and 10 months. The Social Security Administration website has a table that shows the exact full retirement age for each birth year from 1943 onward.

Knowing your full retirement age matters because it is the baseline for calculating how much your benefit increases or decreases if you claim early or late. It also affects how much you can earn from work without triggering a reduction in benefits — a rule that applies only if you claim before reaching full retirement age.

What happens to your benefit if you claim at 62

Claiming at 62 gives you the lowest possible monthly benefit, but you start receiving payments when ready. The exact reduction depends on your full retirement age. If your full retirement age is 67, claiming at 62 reduces your benefit by roughly 30 percent. If your full retirement age is 66, the reduction is roughly 25 percent. The reduction is permanent — it applies to every payment you receive for the rest of your life.

There is also an earnings limit if you claim before full retirement age and continue to work. In 2024, if you earn more than $23,400 per year, the Social Security Administration deducts $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above that amount. This limit applies only in the years before you reach full retirement age. Once you reach full retirement age, you can earn any amount without a reduction.

The trade-off of claiming at 62 is that you receive payments for more years, but each payment is smaller. Someone who claims at 62 and lives to age 80 will have received more total money than someone who waited until 67 and then lived to 80. But someone who lives past 80 will eventually receive more total money by having waited.

What happens to your benefit if you wait until 70

Delaying your claim past full retirement age increases your monthly benefit by roughly 8 percent per year. If your full retirement age is 67, waiting until 70 increases your benefit by roughly 24 percent. This increase is also permanent and applies to every payment you receive for the rest of your life. There is no additional increase for waiting past age 70.

Waiting until 70 makes sense if you expect to live a long time, have other income to live on in the meantime, or want to maximize the benefit your spouse or children may receive based on your record. Spouses and children can receive benefits based on your work history, and those benefits are also higher if you delay your claim.

The trade-off of waiting until 70 is that you receive fewer total payments, but each payment is much larger. Someone who waits until 70 and lives to age 85 will have received more total money than someone who claimed at 62. The "break-even" age — the point at which total payments are equal — is typically in the early 80s, depending on your exact full retirement age.

Work credits and the 10-year rule

To claim Social Security retirement benefits at any age, you must have earned enough work credits. You earn one work credit for each $1,730 of income you earn in a year (this amount changes annually). You can earn a maximum of four credits per year. Most people need 40 credits total to claim retirement benefits, which typically means at least 10 years of work.

The Social Security Administration counts credits based on your earnings record, which it maintains from reports filed by your employers and by you if you are self-employed. You do not need to have worked 10 consecutive years — the credits can be spread across your entire working life. Someone who worked five years, took time off, and then worked five more years would have 40 credits and could claim benefits.

You can check your earnings record and see how many credits you have by creating an account on the Social Security Administration's website and viewing your Social Security Statement. This statement also shows an estimate of your benefit amount at different claiming ages.

Spousal and survivor benefits tied to your claiming age

If you are married, your spouse may be able to claim a benefit based on your work record. The amount your spouse receives depends partly on when you claim. If you claim at 62, your spouse's benefit is reduced. If you wait until full retirement age or later, your spouse's benefit is higher. Similarly, if you pass away, your children and surviving spouse may receive benefits based on your record, and those amounts are also affected by your claiming age.

A surviving spouse can claim benefits as early as age 60 (or age 50 if caring for a child under 16). The amount they receive depends on your full retirement age and when they claim, not on when you claimed. However, if you delay your claim, the total family benefit amount may be higher, which can benefit your survivors.

Children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school) can claim benefits based on your record if you are retired, disabled, or deceased. A divorced spouse can also claim based on your record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they have not remarried.

How to claim and what documents you will need

You can claim Social Security retirement benefits by visiting your local Social Security office, calling 1-800-772-1213, or creating an account on the Social Security Administration's website and explore online. The online process is available starting three months before the month you want your benefits to begin.

You will need to provide proof of age (a birth certificate), proof of citizenship or legal residency (a passport or naturalization papers), and proof of income (W-2 forms or tax returns if self-employed). If you are married and claiming spousal benefits, you will also need to provide your spouse's Social Security number and proof of marriage.

The Social Security Administration typically processes applications within two weeks if you explore online. If you explore in person or by phone, processing may take longer. Your first benefit payment usually arrives one to two months after your process is approved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my mind after I start collecting Social Security?

Yes, but only within limits. If you claimed within the past 12 months, you can withdraw your process and repay all benefits you received, which resets your record as if you never claimed. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw. However, you can suspend your benefits at full retirement age or later, which pauses payments and allows your benefit to grow until you restart it.

What if I am still working when I turn 62?

You can claim at 62 while still working, but if you earn more than $23,400 per year (in 2024), the Social Security Administration will reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. This earnings limit applies only until you reach full retirement age. Once you reach full retirement age, you can earn any amount without a reduction.

How much will my benefit be if I claim at 67 instead of 62?

The exact amount depends on your earnings history, which the Social Security Administration uses to calculate your primary insurance amount. You can see an estimate by viewing your Social Security Statement on the SSA website. Generally, claiming at 67 instead of 62 increases your monthly benefit by roughly 25 to 30 percent.

Do I have to claim at my full retirement age?

No. You can claim anytime between 62 and 70. Claiming before full retirement age reduces your benefit permanently. Claiming after full retirement age increases your benefit permanently. There is no requirement to claim at any particular age, though benefits do not increase after age 70.

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

If you are a U.S. citizen, you can receive Social Security benefits anywhere in the world. If you are not a U.S. citizen, restrictions explore depending on your country of residence. The Social Security Administration publishes a list of countries where non-citizens cannot receive benefits. You should contact the SSA before moving to confirm your benefits will continue.