The age you can claim Social Security depends on when you were born
The earliest you can claim Social Security retirement benefits is age 62, but the amount you receive each month depends on your birth year and when you actually claim. If you were born in 1943 or later, your full retirement age — the age at which you receive your full benefit amount — ranges from 66 to 67. You can claim before your full retirement age, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced. If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly payment increases until age 70.
Social Security also pays benefits to your spouse, children, and survivors based on your work record, and those family members have their own age requirements. Understanding how your birth year affects your full retirement age and how claiming age affects your payment amount helps you decide when to start benefits.
Key Takeaways
- You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but claiming before your full retirement age reduces your monthly payment permanently.
- Your full retirement age is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year, and this is when you receive your full benefit amount.
- Delaying your claim past full retirement age increases your monthly payment by about 8 percent per year until age 70.
- Your spouse and children may be able to claim benefits on your work record once you reach age 62, even if you have not yet claimed yourself.
- You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years to be may have access to to retirement benefits based on your own work record.
Full retirement age by birth year
Your full retirement age depends entirely on the year you were born. The Social Security Administration raised the full retirement age gradually starting with people born in 1943. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1959, 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.
The table below shows the exact full retirement age for each birth year:
| 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 |
Your full retirement age is important because it determines your baseline benefit amount. If you claim before this age, your payment is reduced. If you claim after this age, your payment is increased.
How claiming age affects your monthly payment
Claiming Social Security before your full retirement age means a permanent reduction in your monthly benefit. If you claim at 62 and your full retirement age is 67, your monthly payment is roughly 30 percent lower than it would be at 67. The reduction is smaller if your full retirement age is 66 — claiming at 62 would reduce your payment by about 25 percent. The exact reduction depends on how many months early you claim.
Conversely, delaying your claim past your full retirement age increases your monthly payment. For each year you delay between your full retirement age and age 70, your monthly benefit grows by approximately 8 percent per year. If your full retirement age is 67 and you delay until 70, your monthly payment would be roughly 24 percent higher than if you had claimed at 67. You cannot earn delayed retirement credits past age 70, so there is no financial advantage to waiting beyond that age.
The total amount you receive over your lifetime depends on how long you live, not just on your monthly payment. Someone who claims at 62 receives payments for more years, while someone who claims at 70 receives a higher monthly amount for fewer years. There is no universally "correct" claiming age — it depends on your health, family history, financial needs, and other sources of income.
Spousal and family benefits based on your age
Your spouse, ex-spouse, children, and parents may be able to claim benefits based on your work record. These family members have their own age requirements. Your spouse can claim a reduced benefit as early as age 62, or a full benefit at their own full retirement age. Your ex-spouse can claim on your record if you were married for at least 10 years, you are both at least 62, and you have been divorced for at least two years (or any length of time if you are both at least 62 and have been divorced for at least two years).
Your unmarried children under age 19 (or up to age 19 if they are in high school full-time) can claim on your record at any time once you reach age 62, regardless of whether you have actually claimed your own benefits. Your children aged 19 and older who became disabled before age 22 can also claim on your record for life. These family members receive a percentage of your full retirement age benefit amount, and the total paid to your family cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of your full benefit, depending on your birth year.
Earnings limits if you claim before full retirement age
If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age and continue to work, Social Security will reduce your benefits based on your earnings. For 2024, if you are under your full retirement age for the entire year, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn above $23,400. The earnings limit is higher in the year you reach your full retirement age — $1 is deducted for every $3 you earn above $62,160, but only for earnings before the month you reach full retirement age.
Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit. You can earn as much as you want without any reduction to your benefits. These earnings limits change each year based on national wage index changes, so the dollar amounts will be different in future years. The Social Security Administration publishes updated limits each October for the following year.
How to find your full retirement age and plan your claim
You can find your exact full retirement age on your Social Security statement, which you can view online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. If you do not have an online account, you can create one at ssa.gov/myaccount. Your statement also shows your estimated benefit amount at different claiming ages — typically at 62, your full retirement age, and 70.
You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a representative who can tell you your full retirement age and answer questions about your specific situation. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. If you prefer to speak with someone in person, you can find your local Social Security office at ssa.gov/locator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim Social Security at 62 if my full retirement age is 67?
Yes, you can claim as early as 62. Your monthly payment will be permanently reduced by roughly 30 percent compared to what you would receive at 67. Once you claim, the reduction stays in place for the rest of your life, even after you reach 67.
What happens to my benefits if I work after I claim Social Security?
If you claimed before your full retirement age and you earn more than the annual limit, Social Security reduces your benefits. For 2024, the limit is $23,400 if you are under full retirement age for the entire year. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can work and earn any amount without losing benefits.
Can my spouse claim benefits if I have not claimed yet?
Your spouse can claim a reduced benefit at 62 or a full benefit at their full retirement age, regardless of whether you have claimed. However, your spouse's benefit amount is based on your work record, so they cannot claim until you are at least 62.
Does delaying my claim past 70 increase my benefits further?
No. Delayed retirement credits stop accumulating at age 70. There is no financial advantage to waiting past 70 to claim, though you can still delay if you choose not to claim yet.
How do I know if I have worked long enough to receive Social Security?
You need 40 credits to receive retirement benefits, which is roughly 10 years of work. You earn up to four credits per year based on your earnings. Your Social Security statement shows how many credits you have earned so far.