The earliest you can claim is age 62, but your monthly payment will be smaller
You can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, if you claim at 62, your monthly payment will be permanently reduced — typically 30 percent lower than if you waited until your full retirement age. The reduction is steeper the earlier you claim.
Your full retirement age depends on the year you were born. For people born in 1943 through 1954, full retirement age is 66. For those born in 1955 through 1960, it increases gradually from 66 and 2 months to 66 and 10 months. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. You can claim at your full retirement age with no reduction to your benefit amount.
If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly payment increases by about 8 percent per year until age 70. At 70, the payment stops growing, so there is no financial advantage to waiting longer than that.
Key Takeaways
- You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced if you do.
- Your full retirement age — when you receive your full benefit amount — ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year.
- Waiting to claim until age 70 gives you the highest monthly payment, but the benefit stops growing after that.
- The Social Security Administration will tell you your full retirement age and estimated payment amounts at each claiming age when you contact them.
How your birth year determines your full retirement age
Social Security uses a sliding scale based on when you were born. This change was phased in gradually starting in 2000 to account for longer life expectancies.
| 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 |
If your birthday falls between January and October, you reach each age on the anniversary of your birth. If your birthday is in November or December, you reach that age on January 1 of the following year for Social Security purposes.
What happens to your payment if you claim early
Claiming at 62 instead of your full retirement age reduces your benefit by roughly 30 percent. The exact reduction depends on how many months early you claim. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you are claiming 60 months early, which results in a larger reduction than claiming at 65 would.
This reduction is permanent. Even after you reach your full retirement age, your payment will remain the lower amount you locked in at 62. You cannot change your mind and get the higher payment later. This is why the decision of when to claim matters so much — it affects every payment you receive for the rest of your life.
Some people claim early because they need the money now, or because they are in poor health and do not expect to live much longer. Others claim early while continuing to work. If you are under your full retirement age and earn more than a certain amount from work, Social Security will reduce your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. The earnings limit changes each year.
What happens if you wait past your full retirement age
For every year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly payment increases by about 8 percent. This increase continues until you reach age 70. At 70, your payment reaches its maximum and stops growing.
Waiting to claim is most valuable if you expect to live well into your 80s or beyond. The longer you live, the more total money you receive over your lifetime. However, if you claim early and live a shorter life, you will have received more in total payments than someone who waited.
There is no financial advantage to waiting past age 70. Your payment will not increase further, so the Social Security Administration recommends that most people claim by then at the latest.
How to find out your full retirement age and estimated payments
The Social Security Administration has a tool on its website at ssa.gov where you can create a my Social Security account. Once you log in, you can see your earnings record, your full retirement age, and estimates of what you would receive if you claimed at 62, at your full retirement age, or at 70.
You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to speak with someone who can answer questions about your specific situation. Have your Social Security number ready. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call the TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.
Social Security offices are also open for in-person visits, though you may need to make an appointment. You can find your local office and schedule a visit through ssa.gov.
Special rules for government workers and railroad employees
If you worked for the federal government and are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) rather than Social Security, different rules explore to you. You may not be covered by Social Security at all, or you may have a reduced benefit due to the Government Pension Offset or Windfall Elimination Provision.
Railroad employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Board have their own system separate from Social Security. If you spent part of your career in railroad work and part in other work covered by Social Security, your benefits may be calculated differently.
If either of these situations applies to you, contact the Social Security Administration directly to understand how your benefit will be calculated. The rules are complex and depend on your specific work history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim Social Security before age 62?
No. Age 62 is the earliest age at which anyone can claim Social Security retirement benefits. If you are unable to work before 62 due to a disability, you may be able to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) instead, which has different rules. Contact Social Security to learn whether you might may have access to.
If I claim at 62, can I change my mind later and get a higher payment?
Once you claim, you cannot undo that decision and get the higher payment you would have received by waiting. The only exception is if you withdraw your claim within 12 months of starting benefits and repay what you received. After 12 months, the reduction is permanent. This is why it is important to think carefully before claiming.
What if I'm still working when I turn 62?
You can claim at 62 while still working, but if you earn above a certain amount, Social Security will reduce your benefit. The earnings limit changes each year. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn without affecting your benefit. Ask Social Security what the current earnings limit is.
Does my spouse get a benefit based on my Social Security record?
Yes, your spouse may be able to receive a benefit based on your work record, even if they did not work much themselves. Your spouse can claim as early as age 62, but like your own benefit, claiming early results in a permanent reduction. Spousal benefits have their own rules about full retirement age and payment amounts.
What happens to my Social Security if I move out of the country?
You can receive Social Security benefits while living outside the United States, with some exceptions. Citizens of certain countries may have restrictions. Contact Social Security before you move to understand how it affects your benefits and what you need to do to continue receiving payments.