Social Security: claim at 62, 67 or 70?
See how much your monthly check changes depending on when you start. Uses Social Security’s own rules. Free, no sign-up.
Your monthly check
Change my numbers ↑Enter your full-retirement-age amount and we’ll show your check at every age from 62 to 70.
When does waiting pay off?
Every age, side by side
| Start at | Monthly check | Compared with full |
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Things to weigh
- Your health and family history. Waiting pays off most if you live into your 80s or longer.
- If you’re married, the higher earner waiting can mean a bigger check for the surviving spouse.
- If you’re still working before full retirement age, a yearly earnings limit can hold back some checks for a while.
- Can you cover the wait? Waiting only works if savings or work can pay the bills in the meantime. Try our retirement calculator.
How we figured this
- Starting early lowers your check by 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months before full retirement age, and 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond that.
- Waiting past full retirement age raises it by 2/3 of 1% a month (8% a year), up to age 70.
- Source: Social Security Administration, “Early or Late Retirement?”
- “Pays off” ages compare the total of all checks in today’s dollars. They don’t count yearly raises, taxes, or interest.
For education only, not financial advice. These are estimates using Social Security’s published formulas. Your actual benefit is set by Social Security. Spousal and survivor benefits work differently and aren’t shown here.