Your Social Security retirement age is not simply the age when you stop working. It is the age the Social Security Administration uses to determine whether you receive a reduced, full, or increased monthly retirement benefit.
You can normally begin collecting Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. However, starting that early can permanently reduce your monthly benefit. You receive your unreduced benefit at your full retirement age, and your benefit can continue increasing when you delay filing, up to age 70.
Before choosing a filing date, use the Social Security Retirement Age Chart Calculator to compare estimated benefits at ages 62 through 70.
You should also review What Is My Full Retirement Age for Social Security Benefits? if you need a detailed explanation of how your birth year affects your retirement timeline.
When Should You Start Social Security?
Answer these seven questions to identify the claiming strategy that may deserve the closest review.
Quick Answer Summary
Your Social Security full retirement age depends on the year you were born.
- If you were born from 1943 through 1954, your full retirement age is 66.
- If you were born from 1955 through 1959, your full retirement age gradually increases 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 normally start retirement benefits at age 62, but your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced.
- If you delay benefits beyond your full retirement age, your benefit generally increases until age 70.
- Waiting beyond age 70 does not produce additional delayed retirement credits.
- Medicare eligibility generally begins at age 65, even when your Social Security full retirement age is 66 or 67.
Your full retirement age is not a mandatory retirement date. You may continue working before, during, or after that age.
Social Security Retirement Age Chart by Birth Year
Use the following chart to find the age when you become eligible for your full, unreduced Social Security retirement benefit.
| Year You Were Born | Your Full Retirement Age |
|---|---|
| 1937 or earlier | 65 |
| 1938 | 65 and 2 months |
| 1939 | 65 and 4 months |
| 1940 | 65 and 6 months |
| 1941 | 65 and 8 months |
| 1942 | 65 and 10 months |
| 1943 through 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 you were born on January 1, Social Security generally uses the full retirement age for the previous birth year. For example, if you were born on January 1, 1960, you normally refer to the 1959 row.
The Four Social Security Ages You Need to Understand
The term “retirement age” can refer to several different milestones. Understanding the difference can help you avoid filing too early or missing an important enrollment deadline.
| Age | What It Means |
| 62 | The earliest age when most people can begin Social Security retirement benefits |
| 65 | The age when most people first become eligible for Medicare |
| 66 to 67 | Your full retirement age, depending on your birth year |
| 70 | The age when delayed retirement credits stop increasing your benefit |
Age 62 is not your full retirement age. Age 65 is not automatically your Social Security full retirement age either. For most people approaching retirement today, full retirement age falls somewhere between 66 and 67.
You can learn more about how the program works by reading What Is Social Security and How Does It Work?.
What Happens When You Claim Social Security at Age 62?
You can generally begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. However, your monthly payment is reduced for every month you claim before your full retirement age.
If you were born in 1960 or later and your full retirement age is 67, filing at age 62 can reduce your retirement benefit by approximately 30%.
That reduction is generally permanent. You do not automatically receive your full retirement-age amount when you later turn 67.
For example, suppose your estimated benefit at age 67 is $2,000 per month. If you begin at age 62, your starting benefit could be approximately $1,400 per month before cost-of-living adjustments, Medicare premiums, taxes, or other deductions.
Starting early gives you more monthly payments over your lifetime, but each payment is smaller. Waiting gives you fewer initial payments, but each future payment is larger.
Benefit Percentage Chart for People Born in 1960 or Later
If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. The following simplified chart shows approximately how your claiming age affects your retirement benefit.
| Age You Start Benefits | Approximate Percentage of Your Full Benefit |
| 62 | 70% |
| 63 | 75% |
| 64 | 80% |
| 65 | 86.7% |
| 66 | 93.3% |
| 67 | 100% |
| 68 | 108% |
| 69 | 116% |
| 70 | 124% |
These percentages are estimates based on claiming at the listed whole age. Social Security calculates reductions and delayed credits by month, so your exact amount can differ when you claim between birthdays.
For a personalized estimate, review your earnings record through your Social Security account. The How Do I Access and Manage My Social Security Account Online? guide explains how to view your estimates and account information.
What Happens When You Wait Until Full Retirement Age?
When you wait until your full retirement age, you become eligible for 100% of your calculated primary insurance amount.
Your primary insurance amount is the benefit Social Security calculates from your covered earnings history. It is not necessarily the amount deposited into your bank account because Medicare premiums, taxes, benefit withholding, or other deductions may affect your final payment.
Waiting until full retirement age also removes the retirement earnings-test limit. Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, your wages no longer cause Social Security retirement benefits to be withheld.
This does not mean you must stop working. You can continue working and receive your full Social Security retirement benefit without an earnings-test reduction after reaching full retirement age.
What Happens When You Delay Social Security Until Age 70?
Your retirement benefit can continue increasing when you delay filing beyond your full retirement age.
For people born in 1943 or later, delayed retirement credits generally increase the retirement benefit by approximately 8% for each full year of delay, up to age 70. Credits are calculated monthly.
If your full retirement age is 67 and your benefit at that age would be $2,000, delaying until age 70 could increase your benefit to approximately 124%, or about $2,480 per month before other adjustments.
Your benefit will not continue earning delayed retirement credits after age 70. Once you reach 70, there is generally no financial advantage to delaying your retirement application solely to earn a larger Social Security benefit.
Should You Claim Social Security at 62, Full Retirement Age, or 70?
There is no single claiming age that is best for everyone. Your decision should reflect your complete financial and personal situation.
Claiming at age 62 may make sense when:
- You need income immediately.
- You have stopped working and have limited savings.
- Your health or life expectancy makes waiting less attractive.
- You understand and can manage the permanent reduction.
- Starting benefits may allow eligible family members to claim benefits on your record.
Waiting until full retirement age may make sense when:
- You want your unreduced retirement benefit.
- You plan to continue working and expect to earn more than the annual earnings limit.
- You can cover your expenses without taking benefits early.
- You want a balance between receiving benefits sooner and receiving a larger monthly amount.
Waiting until age 70 may make sense when:
- You have other income or savings available.
- You expect a long retirement.
- You want the largest possible monthly retirement benefit.
- You are the higher earner in a married couple and want to strengthen potential survivor income.
- You are still working and your recent earnings may improve your benefit calculation.
Before deciding, review Retirement Planning for 2026: New Limits and Social Security Changes.
Working While Receiving Social Security in 2026
You can work and receive Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age, Social Security may temporarily withhold part of your benefits when your earnings exceed the annual limit.
If You Are Under Full Retirement Age for All of 2026
The 2026 earnings limit is $24,480.
Social Security generally withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit.
The corresponding monthly amount used under the special first-year retirement rule is $2,040.
If You Reach Full Retirement Age During 2026
The higher 2026 earnings limit is $65,160.
Social Security generally withholds $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above that amount. Only earnings received before the month you reach full retirement age are counted under this limit.
The corresponding monthly amount is $5,430.
Beginning With the Month You Reach Full Retirement Age
There is no retirement earnings limit.
You can earn any amount from work without Social Security withholding retirement benefits because of your wages.
| Your Situation in 2026 | Earnings Limit | Withholding Rule |
| Under full retirement age all year | $24,480 | $1 withheld for every $2 over the limit |
| Reaching full retirement age in 2026 | $65,160 | $1 withheld for every $3 over the limit before your FRA month |
| At full retirement age or older | No limit | No earnings-test withholding |
Benefits withheld under the earnings test are not necessarily lost forever. When you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit to give you credit for months when benefits were withheld because of excess earnings.
The Special First-Year Retirement Rule
The special monthly rule may help you when you retire in the middle of the year.
For example, you may earn more than the annual limit before retiring but have little or no income after your retirement date. Under certain conditions, Social Security can treat you as retired during months when your earnings remain below the applicable monthly amount.
In 2026, the monthly amount is generally:
- $2,040 when you are under full retirement age for the entire year.
- $5,430 for months before full retirement age when you reach full retirement age during 2026.
Different rules can apply to self-employment because Social Security may consider both your net earnings and the amount of work you perform in your business.
Your Work History Can Affect Your Benefit Amount
Your claiming age is not the only factor that determines your payment.
Social Security generally calculates your retirement benefit using your highest 35 years of indexed earnings. If you have fewer than 35 years of covered earnings, zero-earnings years can be included in the calculation.
Continuing to work may increase your benefit when your current earnings replace an earlier year with lower or no earnings.
Before filing, check your Social Security earnings history for missing employers, incorrect wages, or self-employment income that was not properly recorded. The What Is a Social Security Statement and Why Does It Matter? guide explains what to review.
Social Security Retirement Age and Medicare Are Different
Your Medicare eligibility age is generally 65, even when your Social Security full retirement age is 66, 66 and several months, or 67.
Delaying Social Security until age 67 or 70 does not automatically mean you should delay Medicare.
When you are not already receiving Social Security benefits as you approach age 65, you may need to enroll in Medicare separately. Delaying enrollment without qualifying employer coverage can result in delayed coverage or late-enrollment penalties.
Employer health coverage, retiree coverage, Health Savings Accounts, disability benefits, and other circumstances can affect when you should enroll. Confirm your deadline before your 65th birthday.
For help obtaining proof of Medicare status, read How Do I Get a Medicare Eligibility Letter From Social Security?.
Spousal Benefits and Your Retirement Age
A qualifying spouse may receive a benefit worth up to 50% of the worker’s full retirement-age benefit.
The spouse generally must wait until the spouse’s own full retirement age to receive the maximum spousal percentage. Filing earlier can permanently reduce the spousal benefit.
When the spouse’s full retirement age is 67, a spousal benefit started at age 62 can be as low as approximately 32.5% of the worker’s full retirement-age amount.
If you qualify for both your own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, Social Security’s deemed-filing rules usually require you to apply for both. You generally receive your own benefit first and an additional amount when the spousal calculation produces a higher total payment.
Survivor Benefits Follow Different Age Rules
Retirement benefits, spousal benefits, and survivor benefits do not always use identical age rules.
An eligible surviving spouse may generally begin reduced survivor benefits as early as age 60. A surviving spouse with a qualifying disability may be eligible as early as age 50.
The full retirement age for survivor benefits can also differ from the full retirement age used for your own retirement benefit.
This distinction matters because some surviving spouses can claim one type of benefit first and switch to another benefit later. Before filing, ask Social Security to compare every benefit available on your own and your deceased spouse’s records.
How to Choose Your Best Social Security Starting Age
Use the following process before submitting your application.
1. Find Your Full Retirement Age
Use the birth-year chart above to identify the age when you qualify for your unreduced retirement benefit.
2. Review Your Personalized Estimates
Sign in to your Social Security account and compare your estimated monthly benefits at age 62, full retirement age, and age 70.
3. Check Your Earnings Record
Make sure your wages and self-employment income are recorded correctly. Missing earnings can reduce your future benefit.
4. Estimate Your Retirement Budget
Compare your expected expenses with income from Social Security, pensions, retirement accounts, employment, savings, and other sources.
5. Consider Your Health and Life Expectancy
Waiting can produce a higher monthly benefit, but starting earlier gives you more years of payments. Consider your health, family longevity, and income needs.
6. Coordinate Benefits With Your Spouse
Compare your own retirement benefits, spousal benefits, and possible survivor benefits. The higher earner’s decision may affect the surviving spouse’s future income.
7. Review the Earnings Test
If you plan to work before full retirement age, estimate whether your earnings will exceed the 2026 limit.
8. Plan for Medicare Separately
Do not assume your Medicare enrollment date is the same as your Social Security claiming date.
9. Select Your Benefit Start Month
Social Security allows you to apply for retirement benefits up to four months before the month you want benefits to begin. Your first payment normally arrives in the month after your selected enrollment month.
The How Do I Apply for Social Security Retirement Benefits? guide walks you through the complete application process.
Common Social Security Retirement-Age Mistakes
Assuming Age 65 Is Your Full Retirement Age
Age 65 is generally associated with Medicare. Your Social Security full retirement age may be as late as 67.
Filing at 62 Without Calculating the Reduction
Starting at 62 can reduce your monthly retirement benefit by as much as approximately 30% when your full retirement age is 67.
Waiting Beyond Age 70
Delayed retirement credits stop at age 70. Waiting longer normally does not increase your benefit.
Ignoring the Earnings Test
Working before full retirement age can cause benefits to be temporarily withheld when your earnings exceed the annual limit.
Forgetting About Medicare
You may need to enroll in Medicare at 65 even when you delay Social Security.
Using an Outdated Earnings Limit
The retirement earnings limit changes periodically. For 2026, the standard limit is $24,480, and the higher limit for the year you reach full retirement age is $65,160.
Failing to Review Your Earnings Record
Missing or incorrect earnings can affect your retirement calculation.
Confusing an Award Letter With a Benefit Verification Letter
An award letter explains an initial benefit decision. A benefit verification letter provides current proof of your benefits or Medicare status.
When you need proof of income, use How to Get a Social Security Benefit Verification Letter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Retirement Age
What is the full retirement age for Social Security?
Your full retirement age is the age when you qualify for your unreduced Social Security retirement benefit. It ranges from age 65 to 67 depending on your birth year. For people born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67.
For additional examples, read What Is Full Retirement Age? Social Security Chart by Birth Year.
Can you collect Social Security at age 62?
Yes. Age 62 is generally the earliest age when you can begin Social Security retirement benefits. However, starting before your full retirement age permanently reduces your monthly payment.
Is full retirement age changing to 70?
Under current Social Security rules, full retirement age is not 70. It is 67 for people born in 1960 or later. Age 70 is when delayed retirement credits stop increasing your benefit.
Is Social Security retirement age the same as Medicare age?
No. Medicare eligibility generally begins at age 65, while Social Security full retirement age can be between 66 and 67 for many current retirees.
How much do you lose by taking Social Security at 62?
If your full retirement age is 67, starting retirement benefits at 62 can reduce your benefit by approximately 30%. Your exact reduction depends on your birth year and the month you begin benefits.
How much more do you receive by waiting until 70?
If your full retirement age is 67, waiting until age 70 generally produces approximately 124% of your full retirement-age amount.
Can you work after starting Social Security?
Yes. You can work and receive retirement benefits. However, if you are under full retirement age, benefits may be temporarily withheld when your earnings exceed the annual limit.
What is the Social Security earnings limit for 2026?
If you are under full retirement age for all of 2026, the limit is $24,480. If you reach full retirement age during 2026, the higher limit is $65,160 for earnings received before the month you reach full retirement age.
Do withheld benefits disappear permanently?
Not necessarily. When you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your payment to credit you for months when benefits were withheld because of the earnings test.
Can you apply before your planned retirement date?
Yes. You can generally apply for retirement benefits up to four months before the month you want your benefits to begin.
How do you get proof of your Social Security retirement income?
You can request a benefit verification letter through your Social Security account or by contacting Social Security. Read How to Get a Social Security Award Letter Online, by Mail, or by Phone to understand which document you need.
What should you do if your retirement application is delayed?
Check your application status, respond promptly to document requests, and keep copies of everything you submit. When you need to send a documented follow-up, use one of the Retirement Benefits Request Letter Samples.
Final Takeaway
Your full retirement age is only one part of your Social Security decision.
You should compare the permanent reduction from filing early, the delayed credits available until age 70, your employment plans, your health, your retirement budget, Medicare enrollment, and any spousal or survivor benefits available to your family.
Start by finding your full retirement age in the chart. Then review your personalized benefit estimates and compare several possible starting dates before submitting your application.
You can find additional guides and benefit-letter resources in the Social Security Resource Center.
Disclaimer
This article provides general educational information and is not personalized financial, tax, legal, or retirement-planning advice. Social Security and Medicare rules can change. Verify your eligibility, benefit estimate, earnings limit, and enrollment deadlines with the Social Security Administration or a qualified professional before making a decision.