When Should I Start Social Security?

Deciding when to start Social Security is one of the biggest money decisions you'll make in retirement. The good news? It's not as complicated as it seems.

Here's what you need to know.

The Basics: Your Three Main Options

You have flexibility in when you start collecting benefits:

When You Claim	What Happens to Your Check
Age 62 (earliest)	Smaller checks, but you get them longer
Age 66-67 (full retirement age)	You get your full benefit amount
Age 70 (latest)	Bigger checks, but fewer years to collect

Did You Know?

There's no "perfect" age for everyone. The right choice depends on your personal situation—your health, your savings, and whether you're married.

How Much Does Timing Really Matter?

Here's a real example. Say your full benefit at age 67 is $2,000/month:

Claiming Age	Monthly Benefit	Annual Income
62	$1,400	$16,800
67	$2,000	$24,000
70	$2,480	$29,760

That's a $1,080/month difference between claiming at 62 vs. 70—or nearly $13,000 per year.

The 4 Questions to Ask Yourself

1. How's Your Health?

This is the biggest factor most people don't talk about enough.

Good health + family lives long? Waiting usually pays off
Health concerns? Claiming earlier might make sense

There's no way to know for certain, but your family history and current health are useful guides.

2. Do You Need the Money Right Now?

Be honest with yourself:

Still working or have savings? You can afford to wait
Need income to pay bills? Claiming now is a valid choice

Don't go into debt just to delay Social Security. That defeats the purpose.

3. Are You Married?

If you're married, this gets more interesting:

The higher earner should often delay (protects the surviving spouse)
The lower earner might claim earlier
Survivor benefits are based on the higher earner's amount

4. What's Your Break-Even Point?

Here's a simple way to think about it:

If you claim at 62, you get smaller checks but collect them for 8 extra years. At some point, the person who waited "catches up."

Typical break-even age: 80-82

Live past 82? Waiting was probably better
Pass away before 80? Claiming early was probably better

The Bottom Line

Your Situation	Consider This
Healthy, long-lived family	Wait until 70 if you can
Need income now	Claim when you need it
Married, higher earner	Delay to protect your spouse
Health concerns	Claiming earlier may make sense

Most Important: Don't stress about getting this "perfect." Any reasonable choice is fine. The difference between a good decision and the optimal decision is usually smaller than people think.

Next Steps

Check your estimated benefits at ssa.gov
Consider your personal health and financial situation
If you're married, think about what works best for both of you

RetireArc's Social Security optimizer can model your specific situation and show you the trade-offs between different claiming ages.

Sources

Last updated: February 2026. Verify current benefit amounts at ssa.gov.