Retirement benefits can start as early as age 62. SSA
Starting before full retirement age reduces the benefit, and starting after it, up to 70, increases it. SSA
GovFacts tool
Social Security Age Calculator
Answer five questions to find full retirement age and see the monthly benefit at every starting age from 62 to 70, using SSA’s own reduction and credit rules. It covers retirement benefits on a worker’s own record; spouse and survivor benefits follow different rules.
How this calculator works:
- The benefit at full retirement age is the “primary insurance amount,” the figure every early or delayed benefit is figured from. SSA
- Starting early cuts the benefit 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. SSA
- Each month of waiting past full retirement age adds 2/3 of 1%, or 8% a year, for anyone born in 1943 or later. SSA
- The increase stops at 70, so there’s no gain from waiting longer. SSA
See full retirement age by year of birth
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| Year of birth | Full retirement age | Share of the full benefit, starting at 62 and 1 month | Share of the full benefit, starting at 70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1945 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1946 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1947 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1948 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1949 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1950 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1951 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1952 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1953 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1954 | 66 | 75.4% | 132% |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months | 74.6% | 130.7% |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months | 73.8% | 129.3% |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months | 72.9% | 128% |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months | 72.1% | 126.7% |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months | 71.3% | 125.3% |
| 1960 or later | 67 | 70.4% | 124% |
Each table links to its official sources, last checked September 24, 2026.
How the Calculator Works
- The benefit at full retirement age is the “primary insurance amount,” the figure every early or delayed benefit is figured from. SSA
- Starting early cuts the benefit 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. SSA
- Each month of waiting past full retirement age adds 2/3 of 1%, or 8% a year, for anyone born in 1943 or later. SSA
- The increase stops at 70, so there’s no gain from waiting longer. SSA
Full Retirement Age by Birth Year
- Full retirement age is 66 for people born 1943 through 1954. SSA
- For people born 1955 through 1959, it rises two months a year, from 66 and 2 months to 66 and 10 months. SSA
- It’s 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. SSA
- Someone born on Jan. 1 uses the full retirement age for the year before. SSA
- SSA treats a birthday on the 1st as falling in the previous month, so each age arrives a month early. SSA
Starting Early
- Retirement benefits can start as early as age 62. SSA
- Starting early cuts the benefit 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. SSA
- With a full retirement age of 67, starting at 62 cuts the benefit by 30%, so a $1,000 benefit becomes $700. SSA
- A person must be 62 for the whole month to get benefits for it, so most early retirees start at 62 and 1 month. SSA
Waiting Past Full Retirement Age
- Each month of waiting past full retirement age adds 2/3 of 1%, or 8% a year, for anyone born in 1943 or later. SSA
- The increase stops at 70, so there’s no gain from waiting longer. SSA
- When benefits start before 70, some delayed credits aren’t added until the January after benefits begin. SSA
- Apply for Medicare within 3 months of turning 65 even while delaying Social Security; waiting longer can make Part B and Part D cost more. SSA
Working While Collecting
- In 2026, SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above $24,480 by someone younger than full retirement age. SSA
- In the year someone reaches full retirement age, it’s $1 for every $3 above $65,160, until the month they reach it. SSA
- There’s no earnings limit once someone is at full retirement age for the whole year. SSA
The 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment
- Social Security benefits rose 2.8% in January 2026 with the cost-of-living adjustment. SSA
Where to Find Your Estimate
- The Social Security Statement, online through a my Social Security account, shows a worker’s own retirement benefit estimates at nine different starting ages. SSA
- SSA’s own examples use a $1,000 monthly benefit at full retirement age. SSA
Spouses and Survivors
- A spouse’s benefit is at most 50% of the worker’s full-retirement-age benefit, and starting it early cuts it by more. SSA
- Survivor benefits can have a different full retirement age. SSA
How to answer this
A spouse’s benefit is at most 50% of the worker’s full-retirement-age benefit, and starting it early cuts it by more. SSA
SSA says its early and delayed retirement calculators shouldn’t be used for survivor benefits. SSA