How much do you lose if you retire at 62 instead of 65?

Asked by: Violette Emard  |  Last update: January 3, 2024
Score: 4.2/5 (64 votes)

A worker can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a reduction of as much as 30 percent. Starting to receive benefits after normal retirement age may result in larger benefits.

What are the benefits of retiring at 62 vs 65?

Early retirement benefits will continue to be available at age 62, but they will be reduced more. When the full-benefit age reaches 67, benefits taken at age 62 will be reduced to 70 percent of the full benefit and benefits first taken at age 65 will be reduced to 86.7 percent of the full benefit.

What's the difference between retiring at 62 and 65?

Examples: Social Security benefits are reduced by 20% for a person who retires at 62 whose full retirement age is 65 (born 1937 or earlier). Social Security benefits will be reduced by 205/6% for a person whose full retirement age is 65 and 2 months (retires at 62 in 2000).

Is retiring at 62 worth it?

Reason #1: Retire Early if You Want to Stay Healthier Longer

But not all work is good for you; sometimes it's detrimental to your health. Retiring at 62 from a backbreaking job or one with a disproportionately high level of stress can help you retain, or regain, your good health and keep it longer.

How much less do you get if you take Social Security at 65?

The percentage reduction is 5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for each additional month. Reduction applied to $500, which is 50% of the primary insurance amount in this example. The percentage reduction is 25/36 of 1% per month for the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for each additional month.

Social Security at 62 vs 65

23 related questions found

How much will I get in SS at 62?

A single person born in 1961 who has averaged a $50,000 salary, for example, would get $1,386 a month by retiring at 62, the earliest age to start collecting. The same person would get $1,980 a month by waiting until the full retirement age of 67.

What is the #1 reason to take Social Security at 62?

1. You're Planning Your End-of-Life Care. Your Social Security benefits stop paying at your death, so if you die prior to collecting benefits, you'll have missed out on benefits entirely. You need to figure out how to maximize your Social Security income instead.

Is it better to collect Social Security at 62 or 65?

If you start taking Social Security at age 62, rather than waiting until your full retirement age (FRA), you can expect a 30% reduction in monthly benefits with lesser reductions as you approach FRA. Remember, FRA is no longer age 65: It's 67.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.

Why 62 is the best age to retire?

Why Retiring at 62 Is a Good Idea
  • Helps You Stay Healthier Longer. ...
  • Lets You Pursue Other Opportunities. ...
  • Allows Your Finances to Withstand an Unforeseen Upheaval. ...
  • Frees Up Your Time to Learn New Things. ...
  • Allows You to Simplify. ...
  • Allows You to Focus on Your Health. ...
  • Experiencing the Benefits of Retiring Early.

What are the pros and cons of taking retirement at 62?

The advantage of taking retirement benefits early is that you start to collect the money that you've been paying over to the government monthly since you started working. The downside to that, however, is that it causes a permanent reduction in your Social Security retirement benefit.

What is the Social Security 5 year rule?

The Five-Year Rule is important to consider when saving for retirement. If you anticipate needing Social Security in the future, you must have five years of covered earnings to maximize the amount of money you receive.

What to expect when retiring at 62?

While retiring at 62 can have advantages, it's important to be aware of potential disadvantages. The most significant is the reduction in Social Security benefits. Additionally, you may face higher healthcare costs as Medicare eligibility doesn't begin until age 65.

Can you retire at 62 and still work full time?

You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But, if you're younger than full retirement age, and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced. The amount that your benefits are reduced, however, isn't truly lost.

Why retiring at 65 is a good idea?

If you retire at age 40 and expect to live to age 90, for example, you'll need to save enough money to last a half-century. Waiting until you're 65 to retire, on the other hand, can ease some of the pressure to save. You also have to consider how early retirement affects Social Security and Medicare planning.

What is the average Social Security check?

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the average monthly retirement benefit for Security Security recipients is $1,781.63 as of February.

At what age do you get 100 of your Social Security benefits?

If you start receiving benefits at age 66 you get 100 percent of your monthly benefit. If you delay receiving retirement benefits until after your full retirement age, your monthly benefit continues to increase.

What is the disadvantage of drawing Social Security at 62?

The most common disadvantages include: Reduced benefits – If you wait until you turn 65 years old, you can receive the full available benefits each month. However, applying for Social Security at 62 means your monthly payments are at a reduced amount. That could be an issue if you have significant expenses to cover.

How much Social Security will I get if I make $25000 a year?

What is the Social Security payment for a salary over 25,000 dollars? For people who are earning 25,000 dollars across the year rather than the previously mentioned amount, 1,880 dollars of the benefits would have to be withheld, so the monthly benefit amount is 1,886 dollars.

Why not to take Social Security at 65?

If you start your benefits before your full retirement age, your benefits are reduced a fraction of a percent for each month before your full retirement age. You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time before your full retirement age.

What is the average monthly retirement income?

The average monthly retirement income adjusted for inflation in 2023 is $4,381.25, according to a 2022 U.S. Census Bureau report. The average annual income for adults 65 and older in 2023 is $75,254 – or $83,085 when adjusted for inflation.

How much Social Security will I get if I made 40000 a year?

Social Security was never meant to replace all of your work income, but it replaced a decent chunk for those who earned $40,000 consistently during their careers. The $1,580 figure is almost half the $3,333 in career monthly pay, and that doesn't include the income taxes that you had to pay on your work income.

Will I get full benefits at 62 if I retire at 67?

Under current law, retirees get 70 percent of their full benefit if they claim at 62, 100 percent if they claim at 67, and 124 percent if they claim at 70 (with a sliding scale for every month between those ages).