The earliest you can claim Social Security is age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently smaller than if you wait

You can start Social Security at 62, 67, 70, or anywhere in between — the choice is yours. The trade-off is straightforward: claim earlier and get smaller monthly checks for a longer time, or wait and get larger checks for fewer years. There is no single "right" age; it depends on your health, how long you expect to live, and whether you need the money now.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) calls your best-case lifespan your "full retirement age" — the age at which you get 100 percent of your benefit. For people born in 1943 or later, that age is between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year. If you claim before that age, your monthly payment is reduced. If you claim after it, your payment increases by about 8 percent per year until age 70.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be about 30 percent lower than if you wait until your full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age — when you receive your complete benefit — is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year, and you can find yours on your Social Security statement.
  • Waiting until age 70 increases your monthly payment by roughly 24 percent compared to your full retirement age, but you receive fewer total payments over your lifetime.
  • If you are still working when you claim, Social Security will reduce your payments if your earnings exceed a yearly limit that changes each year.
  • You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years to claim benefits on your own record.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The SSA raised the full retirement age gradually starting in 1983. If you were born in 1943 to 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born in 1955, it is 66 and two months. The age continues to increase by two months for each birth year until 1960, when it reaches 67 and stays there for everyone born 1960 or later.

You can find your exact full retirement age on your Social Security statement, which the SSA mails to you each year starting at age 60. You can also create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view it online. Knowing this number is essential because it is the baseline for calculating what you will receive at any other age.

What happens to your payment if you claim before full retirement age

If you claim at 62 — the earliest possible age — your monthly benefit is roughly 30 percent lower than your full retirement age benefit. The exact reduction depends on how many months early you are claiming. Claim at 63 and the reduction is smaller. Claim at 65 and it is smaller still. But the reduction is permanent; you will never get a larger check, even after you reach your full retirement age.

This matters because you will collect Social Security for potentially 30 or 40 years. A smaller monthly check compounds over time. However, if you claim early and die before reaching your mid-80s, you will have collected more total money than if you had waited. The SSA publishes life expectancy tables, but your personal health and family history are better guides than national averages.

What happens if you delay past your full retirement age

For every year you wait past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit grows by about 8 percent per year. At age 70, your benefit is roughly 24 percent higher than at your full retirement age. After age 70, your benefit stops growing, so there is no financial reason to delay past 70.

Delaying works best if you expect to live into your 80s or 90s, or if you are still earning income and want to avoid the earnings limit that applies before full retirement age. It also works if you are married and your spouse can claim a spousal benefit based on your record — a larger benefit for you means a larger benefit for them too.

The earnings limit if you claim before full retirement age and keep working

If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age and continue working, the SSA will reduce your benefit if your earnings exceed a yearly limit. In 2024, that limit is $23,400 per year, but it changes each year. For every $2 you earn above the limit, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit.

The earnings limit applies only in the year you reach full retirement age and only to earnings before the month you reach that age. Once you hit full retirement age, you can earn any amount without a reduction. This rule catches many people by surprise — they claim at 62 thinking they need the money, then find their benefit is nearly eliminated because they are still working.

How long you must have worked to claim on your own record

You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years to claim benefits based on your own earnings record. The SSA counts this as 40 "credits," and you earn one credit for each quarter of the year you work and pay taxes. Most people earn four credits per year, so 10 years of work gives you the 40 credits you need.

If you have not worked 10 years, you may still be able to claim a spousal or survivor benefit based on someone else's record — a spouse, ex-spouse, or parent. Those rules are different and have their own age requirements. You can view your work history and credits on your my Social Security account.

What to do before you claim

Before you decide when to claim, create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You will see your estimated benefit at 62, your full retirement age, and 70. These estimates are based on your actual work history and are updated each year. Print or save these estimates so you can compare them side by side.

Next, think about your situation: Do you need the money now? Are you still working? How is your health? Do you have dependents who might claim on your record? The SSA website has a retirement planning tool that walks through these questions. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 to speak with someone at your local Social Security office, though wait times are often long.

Once you decide, you can claim online at ssa.gov, by phone, or in person at your local Social Security office. The process takes about 15 minutes online. You will need your birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and your bank account information so the SSA can deposit your benefit directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my mind after I start collecting?

Yes, but only within limits. If you claimed within the past 12 months, you can withdraw your claim and reapply later at a higher age — but you must repay all the benefits you received. If more than 12 months have passed, you cannot withdraw, but you can suspend your benefit at full retirement age and let it grow until 70. Suspended benefits earn the 8 percent annual increase.

What if I was born outside the United States?

You can still claim Social Security if you have a valid Social Security number and meet the work requirement. You will need proof of citizenship or legal residency, which usually means a passport or green card. If you live outside the United States, you can still receive benefits, but the SSA may require you to report your income or prove you are alive.

Do I have to claim at the same time as my spouse?

No. Each person decides independently when to claim. One spouse can claim at 62 while the other waits until 70. However, if you are married and one of you was born before January 2, 1954, you may have access to a "restricted process" that lets you claim only a spousal benefit while your own benefit grows. Ask the SSA about this when you call.

What happens to my benefit if I am still working at 70?

Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit. You can work and earn any amount without a reduction to your Social Security benefit. This is one reason some people delay claiming — they keep working and let their benefit grow at 8 percent per year.

How do I know if my estimate is accurate?

The SSA bases your estimate on your actual work history and current earnings record. It assumes you will earn about the same amount each year until you claim. If your earnings change significantly — you retire early, get a big raise, or take time off — your actual benefit may be different. Review your estimate each year and update it if your situation changes.