Social Security
When Should I Claim Social Security?
You can claim Social Security as early as 62 or as late as 70, and the age you pick changes your monthly check for the rest of your life. There's no single right answer — but there is a right answer for your household, and it's findable.
The three ages everyone talks about
Age 62 is the earliest you can claim. For anyone born in 1960 or later, 67 is your full retirement age — the age you receive your full earned benefit. Wait past that and your benefit grows by about 8% for each year you delay, up until 70.
That spread is wide. Claiming at 62 versus waiting until 70 can roughly double the monthly amount for the same earnings record. Over a retirement that lasts 25 or 30 years, the difference adds up to real money — often well into six figures.
What the averages miss
Most rule-of-thumb advice assumes an average lifespan and an average household. You aren't either. If your family tends to live into their nineties, delaying is usually worth far more than the averages suggest. If health problems make a shorter retirement realistic, claiming earlier often makes sense — the benefit isn't only about maximizing dollars, it's about the life you're actually living.
Questions that actually move the answer
When you claim is one of the few retirement decisions that is genuinely permanent. You can undo it within the first year, but after that, the choice sticks.
- Is anyone else counting on your record? A spouse's or survivor's benefit is often based on yours.
- Are you still working? Earnings before full retirement age can temporarily reduce your checks.
- What other income will you have between 62 and 70, and where will it come from?
- Do you need the income, or want it? Those lead to different answers.
How we help
Rather than applying an average to your household, we start with your actual earnings record and look at the whole picture — your spouse's record, any pension, when your other income starts, and what you want retirement to look like. As a Registered Social Security Analyst, Ryan walks through claiming strategies in plain language so you can see the trade-offs yourself.
If you'd like that kind of review before you file, that's exactly what our Social Security Review is for.
A note before you go
This article is general education, not advice about your specific situation — your numbers, health, and family will change the answer. Talk with our team before making decisions.
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