You can collect Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the monthly check is permanently smaller than the one you would get by waiting. Full benefits start at your full retirement age (FRA), which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, and the check keeps growing until age 70.
Most people don’t need to decide in a rush. The right age depends on how long you expect to live, whether you’re still working, and what your spouse would receive if you die first. This guide covers the ages, the math, the 2026 work limits, and the timing rules that trip people up.
You Need 40 Credits Before Any Age Applies
Age is only half the question. To qualify for retirement benefits on your own work record, you need 40 Social Security credits, which works out to about 10 years of covered work.
In 2026, you earn one credit for every $1,890 in covered earnings, with a maximum of four credits per year. If you fall short of 40 credits, you may still qualify for spousal or survivor benefits on someone else’s record. Your free My Social Security account at ssa.gov shows your credit total and an estimate for each claiming age.
Social Security Retirement Ages by Birth Year
Your full retirement age depends on the year you were born. It rose in two-month steps for people born from 1955 through 1959, then settled at 67.
| Birth Year | Full Retirement Age |
| 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 |
Anyone turning 62 in 2026 was born in 1964, so their FRA is 67, and their earliest claiming date falls this year.
Your benefit at FRA is called your primary insurance amount (PIA). Every other claiming age is a percentage of that number.
Claiming at 62, 67, and 70 Compared
1. Claiming at 62, the Earliest Age
You must be 62 for the whole month to be eligible. If your FRA is 67, claiming at 62 cuts your benefit by 30 percent for life.
The reduction is 5/9 of 1 percent for each of the first 36 months before FRA, and 5/12 of 1 percent for each month beyond that. It does not reverse when you reach 67.
2. Claiming at Full Retirement Age
At FRA, you receive 100 percent of your PIA, and the work-income limits disappear. The maximum benefit for a worker retiring at FRA in 2026 is $4,152 a month. Most people receive far less, because that figure requires decades of earnings at or above the taxable maximum.
3. Claiming at 70, the Latest Age Worth Waiting For
Each year you delay past FRA adds 8 percent in delayed retirement credits, applied month by month. With an FRA of 67, claiming at 70 pays 124 percent of your PIA. Waiting past 70 adds nothing, so there is no reason to hold off longer.
What a $2,000 Benefit Looks Like at Each Age
Here is an illustrative example for someone born in 1964 whose PIA is $2,000 a month. Your own numbers will differ, and your ssa.gov estimate is the figure to trust.
| Claiming Age | Percent of PIA | Monthly Check |
| 62 | 70% | $1,400 |
| 67 | 100% | $2,000 |
| 70 | 124% | $2,480 |
Waiting from 62 to 70 adds $1,080 a month in this example, but you give up eight years of checks. Ignoring cost-of-living increases and investment returns, the extra money catches up with the early checks at about age 80 and a half.
Cost-of-living adjustments apply on top of all of this. The 2026 increase was 2.8 percent, and a larger base benefit means a larger dollar increase each year.
Working While You Collect Before Full Retirement Age
If you claim before FRA and keep working, the Social Security Administration (SSA) runs an earnings test. In 2026, the annual limit is $24,480 for anyone who stays below full retirement age all year. Above that, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 you earn over the limit.
A higher limit applies in the year you reach FRA. The limit is $65,160, counting only earnings in the months before your birthday, and the withholding drops to $1 for every $3 over it. From the month you reach FRA, the test no longer applies.
Withheld money is not gone. Once you reach full retirement age, the SSA recalculates your benefit and credits you for the months your payments were withheld.
Only wages and net self-employment income count toward the test. Pensions, investment income, and interest do not.
When the First Social Security Payment Arrives
Social Security pays one month behind. Your benefit for June arrives in July, so your first check comes the month after you become eligible.
Payment dates follow your birthday:
- Born on the 1st through the 10th: second Wednesday of the month
- Born on the 11th through the 20th: third Wednesday
- Born on the 21st through the 31st: fourth Wednesday
People who started benefits before May 1997, or who also receive SSI, are paid on the 3rd.
You can apply up to four months before the month you want benefits to begin. Most people apply online at ssa.gov/retirement, or call 1-800-772-1213.
Other Ages That Change the Answer
1. Age 60 for Survivor Benefits
A widow or widower can claim survivor benefits as early as 60, or 50 if disabled. The survivor keeps the larger of the two benefits, which matters for the planning question later in this article.
2. Age 62 for Spouses and Divorced Spouses
A spouse can claim up to 50 percent of the worker’s PIA, but only once the worker has claimed and only if the spouse is at least 62 or caring for a qualifying child. A divorced spouse may qualify after a marriage of at least 10 years, if currently unmarried.
3. Age 65 and Medicare
Medicare eligibility starts at 65, no matter when you claim Social Security. If you are already collecting benefits when you turn 65, you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B automatically, and the Part B premium comes out of your check.
A Three-Question Way to Pick Your Claiming Age
Most advice stops at “wait if you can.” These three questions give a more personal answer.
1. Can You Cover Your Bills Without the Check?
If savings, a pension, or part-time income can bridge the years before 67 or 70, delaying is far easier. If you can’t, claiming early is a legitimate choice, not a mistake. A smaller check you can count on beats a larger one you can’t afford to wait for.
2. Are You the Higher Earner in a Couple?
When one spouse dies, the survivor keeps the larger of the two checks. If you are the higher earner, delaying your claim raises the benefit your spouse may live on for decades. This is the strongest reason to wait, and it applies even if your own life expectancy is shorter.
3. What Do Your Health and Family History Suggest
If you have a serious health condition or a family history of shorter lifespans, claiming earlier can make sense. Those who expect to live into their 90s generally come out ahead by waiting.
Taxes belong in this decision too. Up to 85 percent of your benefits can count as federal taxable income depending on your other income, and some states tax benefits as well.
This article is general information, not personal financial advice. The SSA’s calculators at ssa.gov or a fee-only financial planner can run your exact number
