When Should You Claim Social Security?
Social Security does not have one perfect claiming age. Starting earlier gives you smaller checks sooner. Waiting gives you larger checks later. Your health, work, other income and family situation all help determine which choice makes sense for you.
We’ll walk through it one decision at a time.
Start with the big picture
Your monthly benefit changes depending on when you start. Here are the three milestones most people compare.
Smaller monthly benefit, but you begin receiving checks sooner.
Your full calculated retirement benefit. FRA varies by birth year.
Largest monthly retirement benefit. Delayed retirement credits stop at 70.
* Full Retirement Age depends on birth year. The calculator below determines your exact FRA.
What are you trying to figure out?
Jump straight to the Social Security question that matters most to you.
See how claiming at 62, your full retirement age, or 70 could change your monthly benefit and cumulative Social Security income.
See what different claiming ages could mean for you
Enter your benefit estimate and we’ll compare claiming at 62, your full retirement age, and 70. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
+ Add filing status & other income for the tax estimate
| Claim age | Monthly benefit | Annual benefit | Total by your plan age |
|---|
How this calculator works
Your 5 Social Security decisions
Start with the simple takeaway. Open a card only when you want the detailed rules and numbers.
Every year you delay claiming past 62 (up to 70) permanently increases your monthly benefit. Claim early and you get a smaller check for more years; delay and you get a bigger check for fewer years. There's no single "correct" answer — it depends heavily on your health, family longevity, other income, and whether you're still working.
How much each age is worth (relative to your full benefit at FRA 67)
| Claim at age | % of full benefit |
|---|---|
| 62 | ~70% |
| 63 | ~75% |
| 64 | ~80% |
| 65 | ~86.7% |
| 66 | ~93.3% |
| 67 (FRA) | 100% |
| 68 | ~108% |
| 69 | ~116% |
| 70 | ~124% |
The reduction for claiming early is 5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months before FRA, then 5/12 of 1% per month beyond that. The increase for delaying past FRA is a flat 8% per year (2/3 of 1% per month), and it stops accruing at age 70 — there's no reason to wait past 70.
Spousal benefits
A spouse can receive up to 50% of the higher earner's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) if the spouse claims at their own FRA. Claiming earlier than FRA reduces the spousal benefit too. If you qualify for both your own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, Social Security generally pays your own benefit first, then tops it up to the higher spousal amount — you don't get both added together.
Divorced-spouse benefits
You can claim a spousal benefit on an ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you're currently unmarried, and you're 62 or older. If you've been divorced at least 2 years, you can claim even if your ex hasn't filed yet.
Survivor benefits
A widow or widower can claim survivor benefits as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled), at a reduced rate. A powerful, underused strategy: claim a reduced survivor benefit early and switch to your own (larger, delayed) retirement benefit later — or the reverse — since these are evaluated somewhat independently. This is a case where getting professional guidance is genuinely worth it, since the optimal sequencing depends on both benefit amounts.
If you claim Social Security before your FRA and keep working, benefits can be temporarily withheld once your earnings cross an annual limit. This is not a permanent loss — see the note below.
| Situation | 2026 annual limit | Withholding rate |
|---|---|---|
| Under FRA all year | $24,480 | $1 withheld per $2 over the limit |
| Reaching FRA this year | $65,160 (earnings before the month you hit FRA only) | $1 withheld per $3 over the limit |
| At FRA or later | No limit | No withholding |
Only wages, self-employment income, bonuses, and commissions count toward the earnings test — pensions, annuities, investment income, and interest do not.
You can apply online at ssa.gov, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security office. Online is fastest for most people.
When to apply
Apply up to 4 months before you want benefits to start. Processing typically takes a few weeks.
What you'll need
- Social Security number and birth certificate (or other proof of age)
- W-2 forms or self-employment tax return for the prior year
- Bank account information for direct deposit
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applying for spousal, divorced-spouse, or survivor benefits
Up to 85% of your Social Security benefit can be subject to federal income tax, depending on your "combined income" (your adjusted gross income + any tax-exempt interest + half of your Social Security benefit).
Separately, some states also tax Social Security benefits — check your specific state's rules, since they vary widely and change periodically.