Frequently asked questions

It is a free guide that helps you think about when to start your Social Security retirement benefit. You answer a few questions. We show what you would get at different ages and a range of ages that may suit you.

Yes. The answer you get at the end is free. You do not need an account. A longer report may be offered later, and it will always be your choice.

Never. We do not need it, and we do not want it. If you type one by mistake, we remove it and ask you not to share it.

No. We are an independent business. We are not connected to the Social Security Administration. We link to ssa.gov so you can check everything yourself.

Source: Retirement benefits (opens in a new tab)

No. It is education. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice, and we do not replace an advisor, an accountant or an attorney. Nobody can promise which age is best for you, because that depends on how long you live.

Your age, and the monthly amount from your Social Security statement at your full retirement age. If you do not have your statement, we can make a rough estimate from your pay and years of work.

Source: my Social Security account (your statement) (opens in a new tab)

Go to ssa.gov/myaccount. Sign in or create an account with Login.gov or ID.me. Choose View your Social Security Statement. Look for Your estimated benefits. Only use the ssa.gov address.

Source: my Social Security account (your statement) (opens in a new tab)

It is the age when you can get 100% of your benefit. It is 66 if you were born in 1954 or before. It rises by 2 months a year for people born from 1955 to 1959. It is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later.

Source: Full retirement age and reduction by claiming age (opens in a new tab)

Your check is smaller for life. If your full retirement age is 67, starting at 62 cuts it by 30%. Starting a few months later cuts it by a little less.

Source: Full retirement age and reduction by claiming age (opens in a new tab), Early or late retirement calculator (opens in a new tab)

Your check grows by 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait, which is 8% a year, until age 70. There is no gain after 70, so there is no reason to wait past 70.

Source: Delayed retirement credits (opens in a new tab)

It is the age when the total money from starting later catches up with the total from starting earlier. If you live past it, waiting paid more in total. If not, starting early paid more. We show these ages on your result.

We show amounts in today's dollars. Cost-of-living raises apply to every starting age, so they do not change which age pays more. Recent raises were 2.8% for 2026 and 3.6% for 2027.

Source: COLA history (opens in a new tab), 2027 cost-of-living adjustment fact sheet (opens in a new tab)

If you start before your full retirement age and earn above a yearly limit, Social Security holds back some benefits. In 2026 the limit is $24,480. They hold back $1 for every $2 above it. In the year you reach full retirement age the limit is $65,160, and they hold back $1 for every $3 above it. The held-back money is added back to your checks later.

Source: Earnings limits while you work (opens in a new tab), Retirement earnings test exempt amounts (opens in a new tab)

Yes. A spouse may get up to half of your full-retirement-age benefit, if that is more than their own. It is smaller if they start before their own full retirement age. When one spouse dies, the other keeps the larger of the two checks. So the higher earner waiting can protect the survivor.

Source: Spousal benefit calculator (opens in a new tab), Survivor benefits by age (opens in a new tab)

Maybe. You may qualify if you were married 10 years or more, you are not remarried and you are at least 62. Ask Social Security about your case.

Source: Retirement benefits (opens in a new tab)

You may be able to start survivor benefits as early as age 60, and switch to your own benefit later, or the other way around. The rules are detailed, so ask Social Security.

Source: Survivor benefits by age (opens in a new tab), Survivors benefits (opens in a new tab)

Maybe. If you started less than 12 months ago, you can withdraw your application, but you must pay back what you and your family received. You can do this once in your life. If you are past full retirement age, you can suspend your benefit to earn more credits until 70. Ask Social Security first.

Source: Retirement benefits (opens in a new tab), Delayed retirement credits (opens in a new tab)

Yes. The law, signed on January 5, 2025, ended the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. A pension from work not covered by Social Security no longer reduces your benefit because of those two rules.

Source: Social Security Fairness Act (opens in a new tab)

Sometimes. Depending on your other income, up to 85% of your benefit can be taxed by the federal government. The income thresholds are $25,000 for a single filer and $32,000 for a joint return. Some states also tax benefits. Ask a tax professional about your own case.

You can apply up to 4 months before you want your benefits to start. Apply only at ssa.gov or with Social Security directly.

Source: Retirement benefits (opens in a new tab)

Medicare is a separate program. Most people can enroll starting at 65, even if they have not started Social Security. Learn more at medicare.gov.

Source: Medicare enrollment (opens in a new tab)

When you use your statement, the math follows Social Security's published rules and rounds the way they do. Your statement assumes you keep working at similar pay, so your real amount can differ. If you use our estimate instead, expect it to be off by about 15% either way.

Source: Quick Calculator (opens in a new tab)

Social Security will never call you to demand money, ask for gift cards or threaten you. Only use ssa.gov. If someone calls or texts you with that kind of demand, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213.

Source: Protect yourself from Social Security scams (opens in a new tab)

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