The age you can claim Social Security depends on when you were born and what type of benefit you're seeking

Social Security has different start dates depending on your birth year and the type of benefit. For retirement benefits, you can claim as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be smaller than if you wait. If you were born in 1943 or later, your full retirement age — when you receive your complete benefit amount — ranges from 66 to 67. You can also delay claiming until age 70, which increases your monthly payment by about 8 percent for each year you wait past full retirement age.

Survivor benefits and disability benefits have different rules. Family members of a worker who has died can claim at any age if they're caring for a child under 16, and children can claim until age 19 if still in high school. Disability benefits have no age requirement — you can claim at any age if you meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim retirement benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced compared to waiting until full retirement age.
  • Full retirement age ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year, and this is when you receive your complete benefit amount with no reduction.
  • Waiting until age 70 increases your monthly payment by roughly 8 percent per year compared to claiming at full retirement age.
  • Survivor and disability benefits have different age rules and do not require you to reach retirement age to claim.
  • You must have earned enough work credits through paying Social Security taxes to claim any type of benefit.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The Social Security Administration sets full retirement age based on when you were born. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. For those born between 1955 and 1960, it increases by two months for each year of birth, ranging from 66 and 2 months to 67. Anyone born in 1960 or later has a full retirement age of 67.

This full retirement age is important because it's the point where you receive 100 percent of your calculated benefit. Claiming before this age reduces your payment permanently. Claiming after this age increases it. The Social Security Administration publishes a full chart on their website showing the exact full retirement age for each birth year.

What happens if you claim at 62 versus waiting

Claiming at 62 is the earliest you can receive retirement benefits, but the reduction is significant. If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, your monthly payment will be about 30 percent lower than your full benefit amount. This reduction is permanent — even after you reach full retirement age, your payment stays at the reduced level.

The trade-off is that you receive payments for five additional years. Whether claiming early makes financial sense depends on your health, family history, and how long you expect to live. Someone who expects a shorter lifespan may receive more total money by claiming at 62. Someone who expects to live into their 80s or 90s typically receives more total money by waiting until full retirement age or 70.

Delaying benefits past full retirement age increases your payment

For each year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by about 8 percent per year 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 your full benefit amount. After age 70, your benefit stops increasing, so there is no financial advantage to waiting longer.

This delayed retirement credit applies only to retirement benefits. Survivor benefits and disability benefits do not increase if you delay claiming. The decision to delay is personal and depends on your circumstances, but the longer you live, the more you benefit from the higher monthly payment.

Work credits and how many you need

To claim any Social Security benefit — retirement, survivor, or disability — you must have earned enough work credits through paying Social Security taxes. In 2024, you earn one credit for each $1,730 of wages, up to four credits per year. Most people need 40 credits total to claim retirement benefits, which typically means working about 10 years.

Younger workers claiming disability or survivor benefits may need fewer credits. Someone who becomes disabled at age 24 might need only 6 credits, for example. The Social Security Administration calculates your specific credit requirement based on your age when you become disabled or when a family member dies. You can view your work history and credits on your Social Security account at ssa.gov.

Survivor benefits for family members

When a worker dies, their family members may be able to claim survivor benefits regardless of age. A spouse caring for a child under 16 can claim at any age. Children can claim until age 19 if they're still in high school, or until age 16 if they're not in school. A spouse at full retirement age or older can claim on the worker's record, and a divorced spouse can claim if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.

The total amount paid to all family members is limited to about 150 to 180 percent of what the worker would have received. This means each family member's payment is reduced if multiple people claim. You do not need to be a certain age to claim survivor benefits, but you must meet one of the relationship requirements listed above.

Disability benefits have no age requirement

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has no minimum age. You can claim at any age if you have a medical condition that prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. The Social Security Administration uses a strict definition of disability — the condition must be severe enough that you cannot do any substantial work, not just your current job.

The process process for disability is longer than for retirement benefits and often requires medical documentation. Many people are denied on their first process. If you're denied, you can request reconsideration or file an appeal. Some people work with a disability advocate or attorney who specializes in Social Security cases, though this is not required.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You can withdraw your process within 12 months of claiming if you haven't reached full retirement age yet. This allows you to stop receiving payments, let your benefit grow, and claim again later at a higher amount. After 12 months or if you've reached full retirement age, you cannot withdraw your process, though you can suspend your benefits at full retirement age and restart them later at a higher rate.

What if I'm still working when I claim Social Security?

If you claim before full retirement age and earn more than a certain amount (in 2024, $23,400 per year), Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit. This rule applies only to retirement benefits, not survivor or disability benefits.

Do I have to claim Social Security at full retirement age?

No. You can claim anytime between 62 and 70. Claiming before full retirement age reduces your payment permanently. Claiming after full retirement age increases it. There is no requirement to claim at any specific age — the choice is yours based on your circumstances.

How do I know how much my benefit will be?

The Social Security Administration estimates your benefit based on your work history. You can view your estimate by creating an account at ssa.gov. Your actual benefit depends on your birth year, when you claim, and your lifetime earnings. The agency sends benefit estimates by mail if you don't create an online account.

Can family members claim on my record if I haven't claimed yet?

Yes. Your spouse, ex-spouse, and children can claim survivor or family benefits on your record even if you haven't claimed yet. However, if you claim before full retirement age, it may affect how much they can receive. Talk to the Social Security Administration about how claiming at different ages affects your family's total benefits.