The earliest you can collect is age 62, but your payment will be smaller

You can begin collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, if you claim before your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year — your monthly payment will be permanently reduced. The reduction is roughly 30 percent if you claim at 62 and your full retirement age is 67.

The Social Security Administration calculates your benefit based on your 35 highest-earning years. Claiming early means you receive payments for more years overall, but each monthly check is smaller. Claiming later than your full retirement age increases your monthly payment by about 8 percent per year, up until age 70.

Your full retirement age is determined by your birth year. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born in 1960 or later, it is 67. Birth years in between have a full retirement age somewhere in that range, typically increasing by two months per year.

Key Takeaways

  • You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be reduced if you claim before your full retirement age.
  • Your full retirement age depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67 for people born after 1943.
  • Waiting until age 70 to claim increases your monthly benefit by about 8 percent per year compared to claiming at your full retirement age.
  • You must have earned at least 40 work credits (roughly 10 years of work) to be may be able to access for retirement benefits.
  • You can view your estimated benefits and full retirement age on your Social Security account at ssa.gov.

How work credits affect when you can claim

To collect Social Security retirement benefits at any age, you must have earned at least 40 work credits. You earn one credit for each quarter of the year in which you earn a certain amount of income (the income threshold changes yearly). Most people earn four credits per year, so 40 credits typically means about 10 years of work.

The Social Security Administration counts credits based on your earnings record, which is built from the taxes you and your employers pay into the system. If you have not worked long enough to earn 40 credits, you cannot claim retirement benefits, though you may be able to claim other benefits such as spousal or survivor benefits.

You can check your work credits and earnings record by creating an account at ssa.gov. The Social Security Administration sends a statement showing your credits and an estimate of your future benefits. Review this statement for errors, because correcting mistakes now is much faster than correcting them after you claim.

What happens if you claim before your full retirement age and still work

If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age and continue to work, your benefits will be reduced if your earnings exceed a certain limit. For 2024, the limit is $23,400 per year. For every $2 you earn above that limit, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefits.

This earnings test applies only to the months before you reach your full retirement age. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn any amount without a reduction to your benefits, even if you have not yet claimed. This is an important distinction: the earnings test stops at full retirement age, not at age 70.

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit as earnings. If you are unsure whether your income will trigger a reduction, contact the Social Security Administration before you claim, because the rules are specific and a mistake can delay your first payment.

Spousal and survivor benefits have different age rules

If you are married, divorced, or a widow or widower, you may be able to claim benefits based on your spouse's or ex-spouse's earnings record. These benefits have their own age rules and can sometimes be claimed earlier than your own retirement benefit.

A spouse can claim a reduced benefit as early as age 62, or a full benefit at the spouse's full retirement age (which is typically 66 or 67). A divorced person can claim on an ex-spouse's record at age 62 if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, even if the ex-spouse has not yet claimed.

Widow and widower benefits can begin as early as age 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled). Children of a deceased worker can claim until age 19 (or 23 if in high school full-time). These rules are separate from retirement benefits and do not reduce your own retirement benefit if you claim both.

How to claim and what documents you will need

You can claim Social Security online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Online is usually the fastest route. You will need your Social Security number, birth certificate, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.

If you are claiming spousal or survivor benefits, you will also need to provide proof of marriage (marriage certificate), divorce (divorce decree), or the death of the worker (death certificate). Have these documents ready before you start, because the process moves faster if you do not have to stop and search for them.

The Social Security Administration typically processes claims within two weeks if you claim online, though some cases take longer if additional information is needed. You will receive a notice in the mail confirming your claim and your benefit amount. Your first payment usually arrives within one to two months after approval.

Delaying your claim to increase your monthly payment

For every year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by about 8 percent per year, up 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 it would be at 67.

Delaying makes the most financial sense if you expect to live into your mid-80s or beyond, because the higher monthly payment will eventually add up to more total money over your lifetime. If you have health concerns or a family history of shorter lifespans, claiming earlier may result in more total benefits.

There is no benefit to delaying past age 70. Your payment stops increasing at that point, so if you have not claimed by then, you should claim when ready. You cannot retroactively claim for months you delayed, so waiting past 70 means you lose those months of benefits permanently.

Government pension offsets and windfall elimination

If you receive a pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes — such as some government jobs — two rules may reduce your Social Security benefits: the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision.

The Government Pension Offset reduces spousal and survivor benefits by two-thirds of your government pension. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your own retirement benefit if you also receive a government pension. These rules are complex and affect different people in different ways depending on when they were born and when they started their government job.

If you have ever worked for a government agency and received a pension, contact the Social Security Administration before you claim to understand how these rules will affect your benefits. The reduction can be substantial, and knowing the amount ahead of time helps you plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim Social Security if I am still working full-time?

Yes, you can claim at any age you are may be able to access, but if you claim before your full retirement age and earn more than the annual limit (currently $23,400), your benefits will be reduced. Once you reach your full retirement age, you can work and earn any amount without a reduction.

What is the difference between my full retirement age and my normal retirement age?

These terms mean the same thing. Your full retirement age (also called normal retirement age) is when you can claim your full benefit amount without any reduction. It ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year.

If I claim at 62, can I change my mind and wait until 70?

You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of claiming and repay all benefits received, which restarts your claim as if you had never claimed. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw. You can suspend your benefits at your full retirement age to let them grow, but this is different from withdrawing your claim.

How do I know if I have earned 40 work credits?

Create an account at ssa.gov and view your earnings record. Your statement shows the number of credits you have earned and the years in which you earned them. If you see errors, contact the Social Security Administration to correct them.

Will my benefit amount change after I start collecting?

Yes. Your benefit is adjusted each year for cost-of-living increases. The Social Security Administration announces the adjustment in October, and it takes effect in January. You will receive a notice showing your new benefit amount.