What age is best to collect Social Security?
Asked by: Ms. Ozella Gottlieb II | Last update: October 29, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (23 votes)
Is it better to take Social Security at 62 or 67?
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.
At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security benefits?
The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67. For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.
What is the most popular age to collect Social Security?
When the Social Security Administration boils all those figures down, the weighted average age of all newly retired workers filing for benefits was about 65 years in 2022. In 2022, the average was 65.1 years for men, while for women it was about 65.0 years.
What is the best age to take Social Security based on life expectancy?
65 is the most efficient age to get Social Security.
What's the Best Age to Start Collecting Social Security?
Why do smart people take Social Security at 62?
Key Takeaways
 Taking Social Security at age 62 can make sense for retirees with health issues. If you're done working for good and do not expect to earn above the annual limit for Social Security earnings, taking benefits early can help cover living expenses.
At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?
Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.
How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?
Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.
When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?
You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement.
What is the smartest age to retire?
Retiring in your mid-60s still makes sense for many people. At this point, you are old enough to have hopefully amassed sizable savings, but you are still young enough to enjoy active pursuits such as travel.
What is the 5 year rule for Social Security?
The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
What is a good monthly retirement income?
The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.
What does Suze Orman say about taking Social Security at 62?
Collecting at Age 62 or 70 Is Not an Either/Or Situation
 “Each month you wait to claim increases your monthly amount for the rest of your life. If you can live off of your 401(k) or other retirement income for 6-12 months and wait to claim Social Security, you end up with a longer benefit for life.”
How much money will I lose if I retire at 62 instead of 65?
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. With delayed retirement credits, a person can receive his or her largest benefit by retiring at age 70.
Can I draw my Social Security at 62 and still work full time?
You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, we will reduce your benefits. Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, we will not reduce your benefits no matter how much you earn.
Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband?
Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.
Who are the never beneficiaries of Social Security?
Ninety-five percent of never-beneficiaries are individuals whose earnings histories are insufficient to qualify for benefits. Late-arriving immigrants and infrequent workers comprise the vast majority of these insufficient earners.
Can a grown child collect parents' Social Security?
When a parent dies, their Social Security benefits cease. An adult child can't inherit the benefits. Only adult children with disabilities can receive Social Security benefits after their parents die. The amount of the monthly benefit payment is based on the parent's contributions in the form of SSA taxes (OASDI).
How to get $3000 a month in Social Security?
Exactly how much in earnings do you need to get a $3,000 benefit? Well, you just need to have averaged about 70% of the taxable maximum. In our example case, that means that your earnings in 1983 were about $22,000 and increased every year to where they ended at about $100,000 at age 62.
What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?
- No. 1: Keep working while taking benefits early. ...
- No. 2: Be a substantially lower-earning spouse. ...
- No. 3: Be alive in 2034. ...
- Social Security still provides an important foundation for retirement.
What is the Social Security 10 year rule?
If you've worked and paid Social Security taxes for 10 years or more, you'll get a monthly benefit based on that work.
At what age can I stop filing taxes?
At What Age Can You Stop Filing Taxes? Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. People who are 65 or older at the end of 2024 have to file a return for tax year 2024 (which is due in 2025) if their gross income is $16,550 or higher.
How do I increase my Social Security benefits?
- Work at least 35 years.
- Earn more if possible.
- Work until full retirement age.
- Delay claiming until age 70.
- Claim spousal payments.
- Include family.
- Know retirement earning limits.
- Minimize Social Security taxes.
Do I have to file a tax return if I only receive Social Security?
Generally, if Social Security benefits were your only income, your benefits are not taxable and you probably do not need to file a federal income tax return.