You can usually start collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but “full” benefits come later—around age 67 for most people today.

Key ages at a glance

  • Age 62 (earliest) :
    • You can first claim Social Security retirement checks at 62.
    • Your benefit is permanently reduced if you start this early, often by roughly 25–30% versus waiting until full retirement age.
  • Full Retirement Age (FRA) :
    • FRA depends on your birth year and is currently between 66 and 67.
* For people born in 1960 or later, FRA is **67** , which is now the standard reference age for “full” benefits.
  • Age 70 (latest to increase benefits) :
    • You can delay claiming past FRA up to age 70 to earn “delayed retirement credits,” boosting your monthly check.
    • Waiting from FRA to 70 can raise benefits by roughly 8% per year, capped at age 70.

Other ways you can collect

Social Security is not only retirement checks:

  • Survivor benefits : Widows and widowers can sometimes collect survivor benefits as early as age 60 , or 50 if disabled.
  • Spousal or divorced-spouse benefits : A current or former spouse may be able to claim based on the worker’s record once certain age and marriage-duration rules are met (often at or around their own FRA, with reductions for earlier filing).
  • Disability benefits : If you qualify as disabled under Social Security’s rules, you may collect disability benefits at much younger ages, independent of the 62–70 retirement window.

Recent and “latest news” context

  • FRA has been creeping up for newer retirees:
    • People born in 1959 hit FRA at 66 and 10 months.
* Those born **1960 or later** have an FRA of **67** , which now fully applies in 2026 and beyond.
  • The earliest retirement claiming age is still 62; what changes is how much of your full benefit you receive and when you reach FRA.

Forum-style quick take

“When can you collect Social Security?”
Think of it as three checkpoints:

  • 62: You can start, but it’s smaller for life.
  • Your FRA (66–67): You get 100% of your earned benefit.
  • 70: You get the maximum monthly check; there’s no extra increase for waiting after 70.

Practical tips before you claim

  • Check your My Social Security online account to see your personalized estimates at 62, FRA, and 70.
  • Consider:
    • Health and family longevity
    • Whether you plan to keep working (earnings limits can reduce early benefits before FRA)
* Whether a spouse or dependent could claim on your record

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.