The age you can start Social Security depends on which type of benefit you want and when you were born

You can start retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount you receive each month will be smaller than if you wait. You can also wait until age 70, when your monthly payment reaches its highest level. Between 62 and 70, there is a full retirement age — the age at which Social Security considers you may be able to access for your full benefit amount. This age depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67 for people born in 1943 or later.

If you are explore for disability benefits, there is no age requirement — you can receive them at any age if you have a severe medical condition that prevents you from working. Survivor benefits for your family members also have different rules: your spouse can receive benefits at 62 (or earlier if caring for your child), and your children can receive them at any age if they are unmarried and under 19, or up to 23 if still in high school.

Key Takeaways

  • You can start retirement benefits at 62, but your monthly payment will be about 30 percent lower than if you wait until your full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year, and waiting until 70 gives you the highest possible monthly payment.
  • Disability benefits have no age requirement — you can receive them at any age if you have a may have access to medical condition.
  • Your spouse and children may be able to receive benefits on your record even if you have not started collecting yet.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

Social Security uses a table based on your birth year to set your full retirement age. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1960, it increases by two months for each year — so someone born in 1955 has a full retirement age of 66 and 2 months, and someone born in 1960 has a full retirement age of 67. If you were born in 1961 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. Knowing this number matters because it determines when you can receive your full benefit amount without any reduction.

What happens if you claim before your full retirement age

Claiming at 62 instead of waiting until your full retirement age means a permanent reduction in your monthly payment. The reduction is roughly 30 percent if your full retirement age is 67, and slightly less if your full retirement age is 66. This reduced amount stays the same for the rest of your life — it does not increase back to the full amount later.

There is one exception: if you claim early and then return to work, Social Security may temporarily withhold some of your benefits if your earnings exceed a certain amount. Once you reach your full retirement age, this earnings limit no longer applies, and you receive your full benefit regardless of how much you earn.

What happens if you wait past your full retirement age

For every year you delay claiming after your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by about 8 percent per year, up until age 70. This means someone with a full retirement age of 67 who waits until 70 receives about 24 percent more per month than they would at 67. After age 70, your benefit stops increasing, so there is no financial advantage to waiting longer.

Waiting makes the most sense if you are in good health, expect to live into your mid-80s or beyond, or do not need the money right away. Claiming early makes more sense if you have health concerns, need the income now, or have limited family history of longevity.

How to claim and what documents you will need

You can start the process three months before the month you want your benefits to begin. You can explore online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. The online process takes about 15 minutes and you can save your progress and return to it later.

You will need your Social Security number, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and your bank account information so Social Security can deposit your payment directly. If you are married, you may also need your spouse's information. If you have worked under a different name, bring documentation of the name change. Social Security will tell you which documents to bring if you explore in person.

Special situations: divorced, widowed, or self-employed

If you are divorced, you may be able to receive benefits based on your ex-spouse's work record if you were married for at least 10 years and are at least 62 years old. You do not need your ex-spouse's permission, and it does not reduce their benefits. If you remarry before age 60, you lose this right, but remarrying at 60 or later does not affect it.

If your spouse has passed away, you can receive survivor benefits as early as age 60 (or 50 if you are disabled). If you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16, you can receive benefits at any age. If you were self-employed, Social Security will review your tax records to verify your earnings history, so have your tax returns available when you explore.

What to expect after you explore

Social Security typically makes a decision within two to three weeks if you explore online or by phone. If you explore in person, it may take longer. You will receive a letter in the mail explaining the decision and your benefit amount. Your first payment usually arrives one to two months after you are approved, though the timing depends on which day of the month you were born and how you receive your payment.

Your benefit payment is deposited directly into your bank account on the same day each month. You can change your bank account information or payment method at any time by logging into your my Social Security account online or by calling Social Security.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, but only within a limited window. If you are still within 12 months of when you first claimed, you can withdraw your process and repay all the benefits you received. This resets your claim, and you can reapply later at a higher benefit amount. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw, but you can suspend your benefits at your full retirement age and let them grow until age 70.

What if I am still working when I turn 62?

You can claim benefits while working, but Social Security will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above a certain amount (about $23,400 in 2024, though this changes yearly). Once you reach your full retirement age, this earnings limit no longer applies. If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit as earnings.

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

No. You can claim anytime between 62 and 70, or even later. There is no requirement to claim at your full retirement age — that is straightforward the age at which you receive your full benefit amount without any reduction or increase.

Can my spouse receive benefits if they never worked?

Yes. A spouse who is at least 62 can receive up to 50 percent of your full retirement age benefit amount, even if they have no work history. A spouse caring for your child under 16 can receive benefits at any age. These spousal benefits do not reduce your own benefit.

What happens to my benefits if I move out of the country?

You can receive Social Security benefits while living outside the United States in most countries. However, some countries have restrictions, and you must report your address to Social Security. Contact Social Security before you move to confirm your benefits will continue and to update your address.