Benefits Guidance UNITED STATES Plain-English guide to US federal and state programs
Social SecurityGuide8 min read

Claiming Social Security retirement benefits

When to claim, how your age affects the amount, and how to apply.

When can I claim?

You can start Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. The longer you wait, the higher your monthly payment.

Age you claimEffect on benefitExample (FRA benefit $2,000)
62−25% to −30%~$1,400–$1,500/month
65−6.7% to −13.3%~$1,733–$1,866/month
67 (FRA)100%$2,000/month
70+24%$2,480/month

FRA = Full Retirement Age. For people born 1960 or later, FRA is 67. Source: SSA.

What is the Full Retirement Age (FRA)?

FRA is the age at which you receive 100% of your benefit. For anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. For those born between 1955 and 1959, FRA is between 66 and 2 months and 66 and 10 months.

Should I claim early or wait?

It depends on your health, other income, and whether you are still working. A rough break-even point for claiming at 67 vs 62 is around age 78–80 — if you expect to live past that, waiting generally pays more in total. Use the SSA retirement estimator to model your specific situation.

How to apply

  1. Apply online at ssa.gov/retire — takes about 15–30 minutes. Apply up to 4 months before you want payments to start.
  2. Or call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to apply by phone or schedule an in-person appointment.
  3. You will need: your Social Security number, birth certificate, most recent tax return, bank account for direct deposit.
Use the SSA benefit estimator first

Log in to my Social Security to see your actual projected benefit at different claiming ages, based on your real earnings history.

my Social Security