You can start taking Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be smaller than if you wait

The earliest age you can claim Social Security retirement benefits is 62. However, the amount you receive each month depends on when you claim. If you claim at 62, you get a reduced payment for life. If you wait until your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year — you get your full benefit amount. If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly payment increases by roughly 8 percent per year until age 70, when the increases stop.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings. The age you claim determines what percentage of that calculated amount you actually receive each month. This is a permanent choice: once you claim, you cannot undo it, though there are narrow exceptions for people who claim and then change their minds within a specific window.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced compared to waiting until your full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67; claiming at this age gives you your standard benefit amount.
  • Waiting to claim past your full retirement age increases your monthly payment by approximately 8 percent per year until you reach age 70.
  • The Social Security Administration bases your benefit on your 35 highest-earning years, so working longer can increase the amount you receive.
  • Once you claim, the decision is permanent, so understanding the long-term impact of your claiming age matters.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The age at which you receive your full Social Security benefit — called your full retirement age or normal retirement age — is not 65 for everyone. Congress changed the rules in 1983, and the full retirement age now depends on the year you were born.

If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1960, 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. You can find your exact full retirement age on the Social Security Administration website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

What happens to your payment if you claim at 62

Claiming at 62 means you receive a permanent reduction to your monthly benefit. The exact reduction depends on how many years before your full retirement age you claim. If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you receive roughly 70 percent of your full benefit amount. If your full retirement age is 66 and you claim at 62, you receive roughly 75 percent. The reduction is calculated by the Social Security Administration and applied to your benefit for the rest of your life.

This reduction affects not only your own payments but also any benefits your family members might receive based on your record. For example, if you have a spouse or ex-spouse who is may have access to to a benefit based on your earnings, their payment is also reduced if you claim early.

How waiting past your full retirement age increases your payment

For each year you delay claiming after your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases. The increase is roughly 8 percent per year, though the exact amount depends on your birth year. This increase continues until you reach age 70. After age 70, there is no financial advantage to delaying further, so your benefit stops growing.

If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70 to claim, you receive roughly 124 percent of your full benefit amount. This higher payment continues for the rest of your life and also affects any family benefits based on your record. The trade-off is that you receive no payments during those three years of waiting.

Earnings limits if you claim before your full retirement age

If you claim Social Security before reaching your full retirement age and you continue to work, the Social Security Administration reduces your benefit based on your earnings. For 2024, if you earn more than $23,400 per year, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. The limit changes each year.

This earnings test applies only to months before you reach your full retirement age. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn any amount without affecting your benefit, even if you have not yet claimed. If you claim at 62 and continue working, you may receive very little or nothing in benefits for some months, but your benefit amount itself is not permanently reduced — only your payments for that year are affected.

How your work history affects the amount you receive

Social Security calculates your benefit using your 35 highest-earning years. If you have worked fewer than 35 years, the calculation includes zeros for the missing years, which lowers your benefit. If you work longer and replace a low-earning year with a higher-earning year, your benefit increases.

You must have earned at least 40 credits to receive any Social Security retirement benefit. A credit is based on your annual earnings; in 2024, you earn one credit for each $1,730 of earnings, up to a maximum of four credits per year. Most people earn their 40 credits by age 60 if they have worked steadily, but the exact timeline depends on when you started working and how much you earned.

Special rules for government employees and non-covered work

If you worked for a federal, state, or local government and did not pay Social Security taxes on that work, your Social Security benefit may be reduced by the Government Pension Offset or the Windfall Elimination Provision. These rules explore to certain government pensions and can significantly lower your benefit or any benefit you receive based on a spouse's record.

The Government Pension Offset reduces a spouse's or survivor's benefit based on your government pension. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your own Social Security benefit if you receive a government pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes. Both rules have specific formulas and exceptions. If you have a government pension, you should contact the Social Security Administration directly to understand how these rules affect your benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim Social Security and still work full-time?

Yes, but if you claim before your full retirement age and earn above the annual limit, Social Security reduces your benefit that year. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can work and earn any amount without affecting your benefit. The earnings limit for 2024 is $23,400 per year for people under full retirement age.

What happens if I claim at 62 and then change my mind?

You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of claiming and repay all benefits you received. After 12 months, you cannot undo the claim. There is a separate rule allowing people at full retirement age or older to suspend their benefit and restart it later at a higher amount, but this rule is limited and has specific conditions.

Does my spouse get a benefit based on my Social Security record?

Yes, if you are married, your spouse may be may have access to to a benefit based on your earnings record. Your spouse can claim as early as 62, but the benefit is reduced. If your spouse waits until their full retirement age, they receive up to 50 percent of your full benefit amount. Your claiming age affects the maximum your spouse can receive.

What if I was born on January 1st — which year's rules explore to me?

If you were born on January 1st, Social Security treats you as if you were born on December 31st of the previous year. This affects which birth-year group you fall into for determining your full retirement age. Contact the Social Security Administration to confirm your exact full retirement age.

Can I claim Social Security if I never worked?

No, you must have earned at least 40 credits to receive Social Security retirement benefits based on your own work record. However, you may be may have access to to a benefit based on a spouse's or ex-spouse's record if you meet other requirements, such as being married for at least 10 years or being age 62 or older.