See your monthly check at 62, at full retirement age and at 70, how long waiting takes to pay off, and what working while claiming does.
Start with your benefit at full retirement age from your Social Security statement at ssa.gov/myaccount. Tap any § label to see SSA's rule.
Common questions
How claiming age changes your check
At full retirement age you get 100% of your benefit.
Each month earlier cuts it by 5/9 of 1% for the first 36 months, then 5/12 of 1% a month. At 62 with a full retirement age of 67, that's 70%.
Each year you wait past full retirement age adds 8%, up to age 70. At 70 with a full retirement age of 67, that's 124%.
Is money withheld for working lost for good?
No. Once you reach full retirement age, SSA raises your monthly benefit to account for the months benefits were withheld.
What about cost-of-living raises?
All amounts here are in today's dollars. Cost-of-living adjustments raise every claiming age by the same percentage, so the comparison holds.
Does claiming age affect SSI or disability benefits?
Yes, Social Security counts as income for SSI and SNAP. See the benefits calculator.
Sources3 sources · checked October 12, 2026
Every figure on this page links to one of these. Tap any source label to see what it says. All checked October 12, 2026.
Normal (full) retirement ageSocial Security AdministrationFull retirement age is 66 for people born 1943–1954, rises by 2 months a year for 1955–1959, and is 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
Early or late retirementSocial Security AdministrationBenefits drop 5/9 of 1% for each month before full retirement age (up to 36 months) and 5/12 of 1% for each additional month. Waiting past full retirement age adds 8% a year for people born 1943 or later, with no credit after age 70.
Retirement earnings test exempt amountsSocial Security Administration2026: if under full retirement age all year, $1 is withheld for every $2 earned above $24,480. In the year you reach full retirement age, $1 for every $3 above $65,160, counting only months before that birthday.