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The Global Insight

What are the Social Security ages?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on April 06, 2026

The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. 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.

How do you get Social Security at 62?

How Early Can I Apply? Apply four months before you want your Social Security retirement benefits to start. If you want your benefits to start at age 62, you can apply at age 61 and 9 months.

What is full retirement age for someone born 1954?

66
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 lowest Social Security retirement benefit?

DEFINITION: The special minimum benefit is a special minimum primary insurance amount ( PIA ) enacted in 1972 to provide adequate benefits to long-term low earners. The first full special minimum PIA in 1973 was $170 per month. Beginning in 1979, its value has increased with price growth and is $886 per month in 2020.

How old do you have to be to get Social Security benefits?

You must be at least 62 for the entire month to receive benefits. Percentages are approximate due to rounding. The maximum benefit for the spouse is 50 percent of the benefit the worker would receive at full retirement age.

What are the Social Security benefits at age 62?

Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth Year of Birth 1. Full (normal) Retirement Age Months between age 62 and full retiremen At Age 62 3. At Age 62 3. 1958 66 and 8 months 56 $716 33.33% 1959 66 and 10 months 58 $708 34.17% 1960 and later 67 60 $700 35.00%

Is there a difference in Social Security at age 70?

“For example, your monthly payment can be as much as 32 percent more starting at age 70 than what you would have collected at age 66.” Did You Know: The Social Security Administration offers benefit calculators to estimate your monthly Social Security payment. Unfortunately, not everyone can delay their benefit claim.

What happens if you start collecting Social Security before full retirement age?

However, Social Security reduces your payment if you start collecting before your full retirement age, or FRA. (FRA is currently 66 and 2 months and is gradually rising to 67 for people born in 1960 or later.) Only then do you qualify for 100 percent of your basic monthly benefit, which is calculated from your 35 highest-earning years.