When to Claim Social Security: 62 vs. 67 vs. 70 in Plain Language

Deciding when to claim Social Security is one of the biggest choices in retirement. You can start as early as age 62, wait until your full retirement age, or delay until age 70. Each choice changes your monthly benefit for life, so it helps to understand the rules in plain language before you decide.

Key takeaway: For a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 gives 70% of the full benefit, claiming at 67 gives 100%, and delaying to 70 gives 124%. The right age depends on your health, income need, work plans, and family situation — there is no single best age for everyone.

In this article:

What is full retirement age?

Full retirement age is the age at which you receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefit. It depends on your year of birth. According to the Social Security Administration, full retirement age is 67 for people born in 1960 or later. For earlier birth years it is lower: 66 for people born from 1943 to 1954, then rising by two months per birth year — 66 and 2 months for 1955, 66 and 4 months for 1956, 66 and 6 months for 1957, 66 and 8 months for 1958, and 66 and 10 months for 1959. Check your own full retirement age at ssa.gov before you decide, and note that survivor benefits can have a different full retirement age.

Older adult looking thoughtfully at a blank wall calendar at home.

Timing matters: the age you claim changes your monthly benefit.

What claiming at 62 means

You can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. If you start early, your benefit is reduced by a small percentage for each month before your full retirement age, and that reduction is permanent — it does not rise to the full amount when you reach full retirement age. For a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 reduces the benefit by 30%, so you receive 70% of the full benefit. For earlier full retirement ages the reduction at 62 is smaller, because there are fewer months between 62 and full retirement age; for example, for a full retirement age of 66 the reduction at 62 is 25%.

What claiming at full retirement age means

If you claim at your full retirement age, you receive 100% of your benefit — the full amount based on your earnings record. You do not get a reduction, and you do not yet get delayed retirement credits. For many people this is a useful middle point: a full monthly benefit without waiting until 70.

What delaying to 70 means

If you delay starting benefits past your full retirement age, your benefit increases by a certain percentage for each month you delay. For people born in 1943 or later, the increase is 8% per year. The benefit increase stops when you reach age 70, so there is no extra credit for delaying past 70. For a full retirement age of 67, delaying to 70 adds three years at 8% per year, which is 24% more than the full benefit — 124% in total. If you delay, remember to sign up for Medicare at age 65 even if you are not yet claiming Social Security; the Social Security Administration advises this on its delayed retirement credits page.

62 vs. 67 vs. 70 at a glance

The table below is for a full retirement age of 67 only, and the figures are percentages of the full benefit — not dollar amounts. Your own dollar amount depends on your earnings record; check it in your my Social Security account.

Claiming age (FRA 67)Share of full benefitWhat it means
6270%Permanently reduced by 30%
67 (full retirement age)100%Full benefit, no reduction or delayed credit
70124%Full benefit plus 24% in delayed credits; no extra credit past 70
Tip: Do not compare only the monthly amount. Also think about how long you may need the income, whether you still work, and what your household needs if one spouse dies.

Factors to consider

  • Health and family history. If you expect a shorter retirement, starting earlier may matter more to you. If you expect a long retirement, a larger monthly benefit from waiting may matter more. This is a personal judgment, not a prediction anyone can make for you.
  • Income need now. If you need the income to cover essentials now and have no other income, claiming earlier may be the practical choice. If you can cover costs from other income, waiting may be easier.
  • Work. If you plan to keep working, check the current rules at ssa.gov for how earnings can affect benefits before full retirement age. This article does not state an earnings-test limit, because limits can change — check ssa.gov for the current figure. Social Security amounts can also change from year to year, so see Social Security COLA 2027: What Changes and What to Check for what changes and what to check.
  • Spouse and survivor considerations. In general terms, a spouse's benefit and a survivor's benefit can be affected by when the worker claims, and survivor full retirement age may differ. Get the details for your own situation from ssa.gov before deciding, especially if you are married or widowed.
  • Other income and costs. Consider pensions, savings withdrawals, and health costs together with Social Security. See Budget on a Fixed Income After 65 for a simple monthly plan.
Older couple discussing retirement plans at home.

Talk through the decision together, and check your own benefit estimate first.

Checklist for deciding

This checklist collects no information — it is only a list to work through before you claim.

  • ☐ I have checked my own full retirement age at ssa.gov.
  • ☐ I have checked my own benefit estimate in my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
  • ☐ I have compared 62, full retirement age, and 70 as percentages of my full benefit.
  • ☐ I have thought about my health, income need, and whether I plan to keep working.
  • ☐ I have considered spouse and survivor effects in general terms and checked ssa.gov for my situation.
  • ☐ I have planned for Medicare at age 65, even if I delay claiming Social Security.
  • ☐ I have not relied on a break-even age, average benefit, or COLA figure from this article — none are stated here.

Frequently asked questions

Does my benefit rise to the full amount if I claim at 62 and then reach full retirement age?

No. The early-claiming reduction is permanent. Claiming at 62 with a full retirement age of 67 means 70% of the full benefit, not 100% later.

Is there any gain from delaying past age 70?

No. The benefit increase stops at age 70, according to the Social Security Administration.

Where can I see my own dollar amount?

In your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. See How to Check Your Social Security Benefits Online for step-by-step help.

Next steps

Official sources

This article is general education only and is not individualized financial advice. For current figures and your own situation, check ssa.gov. See the Financial Disclaimer.

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