Is it better to retire at 62 or 67?

Asked by: Dr. Leta Wolf  |  Last update: August 23, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (16 votes)

Key takeaways. If you claim Social Security at age 62, rather than wait until your full retirement age (FRA), you can expect a 30% reduction in monthly benefits. For every year you delay claiming Social Security past your FRA up to age 70, you get an 8% increase in your benefit.

Is it better to retire at 62 or 67 for Social Security?

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

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.

How much more is Social Security at 67 than 62?

Fidelity ran the numbers on a hypothetical situation involving a person with typical career earnings who turned 62 in 2022. If the person waits until age 67 to collect Social Security, they will receive about $2,000 a month. However, if they begin taking benefits at age 62, they will only receive $1,400 a month.

Does retirement increase at 67 if you retire at 62?

Now that the full retirement age is 67, a worker who files at 62 gets 70 percent of a full benefit, or $1,400 per month, in this example. If the full retirement age were 70, a worker filing at age 62 would get 57 percent of a full benefit, or $1,140 per month.

5 GOOD REASONS to File for Social Security at Age 62

19 related questions found

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 is typical Social Security at 62?

According to the SSA's 2021 Annual Statistical Supplement, the monthly benefit amount for retired workers claiming benefits at age 62 earning the average wage was $1,480 per month for the worker alone. The benefit amount for workers with spouses claiming benefits was $2,170 at age 62.

How do you 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.

What is the highest Social Security payment at age 67?

The maximum Social Security benefit for someone who retires at age 67 — which is considered the full retirement age for those born in 1960 or later — is $3,627 per month. What is the maximum Social Security amount at age 70? The maximum Social Security benefit for someone who retires at age 70 is $4,555 per month.

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.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security can potentially be subject to tax regardless of your age. While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.

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

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. The chart below explains how delayed retirement affects your benefit.

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.

How much can I make if I retire at 62 and still work?

Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn and still receive your benefits. You work and earn $31,240 ($10,000 more than the $21,240 limit) during the year.

Can I retire at 62 and still work part 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.

Does money in the bank affect Social Security retirement benefits?

Social Security does not count pension payments, annuities, or the interest or dividends from your savings and investments as earnings. They do not lower your Social Security retirement benefits.

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.

What is the secret bonus for Social Security?

As Long as Possible, Wait

Your Social Security benefits will be permanently reduced by up to 30% if you claim "early," at age 62. However, waiting until 70 years old has the opposite effect. Your monthly benefits will receive an additional 8% "bonus" for each year you delay claiming benefits past full retirement age.

What is the lowest Social Security payment at age 62?

The reduction in benefits also applies to people receiving the special minimum benefit. So if you were eligible to receive the full $950 benefit for 2023 but retire at age 62, your benefits would drop to $665 instead.

Is it smart to start Social Security at 62?

If you claim Social Security at age 62, rather than wait until your full retirement age (FRA), you can expect a 30% reduction in monthly benefits. For every year you delay claiming Social Security past your FRA up to age 70, you get an 8% increase in your benefit.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

But, generally speaking, most experts agree that you will need 70-80% of your pre-retirement income to maintain your standard of living in retirement. For example, if you earned $50,000 per year ($4,167 a month) before retiring, you would need approximately $35,000-$40,000 per year in retirement.

How much money should I have when I retire at 62?

An early retirement will need an even larger nest egg. Fidelity's guidelines note that retiring at 62 would boost the savings estimate to 55% of pretax, preretirement income and require about 14 times of a person's current income by age 62. Anything earlier than that will require even more savings.

What percentage of people retire at 62?

And as of 2021, according to the Congressional Research Service, about 30% of Social Security applicants were 62. But is it right for you? A 2022 study reveals that retirement benefits taken at age 70 have a value of 76% more than those that start at 62.