Calculators / Saving & investing

When to claim Social Security

Claiming at 62 pays 30% less forever; waiting to 70 pays 24% more forever. Which wins depends on one thing - how long you live past the crossover ages this shows. Nothing you type leaves this page.

$

From your statement at ssa.gov/myaccount - takes two minutes to look up.

Waiting 67 to 70 pays off at age

Claim at 62

Claim at 67

Claim at 70

62 vs 67 crossover

Cumulative benefits collected, by claiming age

Cumulative totals at each age

How this is calculated

For anyone born 1960 or later, claiming at 62 pays 70% of your full benefit; 67 pays 100%; 70 pays 124% (delayed credits of 8% per year). The chart accumulates each stream from its start age; where lines cross is the age at which waiting overtakes claiming early.

Reading your crossovers

The typical pattern: 62-vs-67 crosses in the late 70s, 67-vs-70 in the early 80s. Life expectancy for someone who has already reached 62 is roughly 84 for men and 86 for women - past both crossovers - which is why actuaries usually favor waiting if you can afford to. Claim early when health or family history argues a shorter horizon, when you need the cash, or when a survivor benefit is not in play.

What is deliberately left out

COLA raises all three streams by the same percentage, so it barely moves the crossovers - these are real (today's) dollars. Not modeled: spousal and survivor strategy (often the strongest reason to delay - the survivor keeps the LARGER benefit), taxes on benefits, the earnings test if you claim while working, and investing early benefits. A financial planner earns their fee on the spousal question.