This will be the best article you will read to determine when you can and should file for Social Security benefits and to help you determine the best age to file for Social Security. Many articles give a specific age such as 62, 67, or 70.
Spoiler alert: There is no single specific best age to file for social security! The best age to file for Social Security is unique to you, and your spouse, if you have one. In addition, coordinating benefits with your spouse can have a dramatic effect. You cannot look at filing for benefits in a silo unless you are single. There is only one way anyone will know the best age to file for Social Security, and that is if you know when you will die. But by addressing the issues listed below in the various age categories, you can determine what your best age to file is. You also must remember, anytime you file for benefits before your full retirement age – 62 to 67 – they are always reduced. There is basically only one cardinal rule for Social Security filing age: never wait past 70 to file.
Social Security is the foundation of your retirement planning. Social Security benefits will make up anywhere from 50% to 75% of your required retirement income, so you need to make this decision correctly. This article assumes you qualify for the benefit you are applying for and are not subject to the annual earnings limitation of $24,480 in 2026, which is applicable between the ages of 62 to 67. If you are subject to the annual earnings limitation, it adds another level of planning to determine your best filing age.
Age-Based Benefit Opportunities
Between Ages 18 to 67: Apply for Disability Benefits-SSDI
Age 50: Apply for disabled widow’s benefits
Age 60: Apply for surviving spouse and ex-surviving spouse benefits
Did you know that any time there is a survivor benefit involved – if you have your own Social Security benefit – you should always consider taking one of the two benefits as soon as possible. You can choose to claim survivor benefit first and then switch to your own worker benefit later if advantageous or vice-versa. Delaying your own Social Security benefit allows you to earn delayed retirement credits and, ultimately, more benefits in the future.
If you remarry after age 60, you will still be eligible for the survivor benefit. If you remarry before age 60, you are not eligible for the survivor benefit of your first spouse.
File Early Ages 62 to 67
Apply for retirement benefits, spousal benefits, ex-spousal benefits, independently entitled, divorced spouse benefits, children’s benefits, child-in-care benefits and dependent parent.
Do you need the cash?
Is your health good? If not, early might be better.
Do you have longevity in your family history?
Do you expect to live to 80? If not, early may be better?
Do you have additional benefits available to other family members?
- Current spouse
- Ex-spouse
- Children under 18 or under 19 if still in high school
- Children under 16: Child-in-care benefits for a spouse
that has not reached age 62
Are you divorced more than two years? If so, you are considered “independently entitled.” Your ex-spouse does not need to be receiving benefits for you to file for ex-spousal benefits, but your ex-spouse needs to be eligible to claim benefits.
Are you the lower earning spouse and will be eligible for a spousal benefit when your spouse files?
How will benefits affect your tax situation?
Will receiving benefits subject you to the IRMAA penalty?
Do you assume no changes will be made to shoring up Social Security benefits and a 22% reduction in benefits will happen in 2032?
File at Full Retirement Ages 66 to 67
Since the annual earnings limitation is no longer in play, do you file so your spouse can file for spousal benefits?
Do you file for benefits at 67 instead of waiting until 70 to take advantage of children’s benefits?
You are single and have always been single. There is no advantage to a single person to wait after full retirement age to increase their benefit because there is no survivor benefit available.
The higher earning spouse may wish to delay filing to earn delayed retirement credits and maximize the surviving spouse benefit. This may be more pronounced if there is a significant age difference between high earning spouse and low earning spouse, the higher earning spouse being older.
If you are currently receiving a benefit, you can “voluntarily suspend” your benefit at age 67 or later to earn delayed retirement credits and provide a greater survivor benefit.
If you are filing for benefits after age 67, you can receive “retroactive” benefits for up to 6 months.
What happens if you make a mistake or your life changes? You can “withdraw” your application within 12 months of your application being approved by filing form SSA-521. You must repay all benefits received, even auxiliary benefits. It’s like it never happened, but you can only do this once.
Once you have addressed these various issues, you will have determined the best filing age.
Remember, take the wrong benefit at the wrong time, it’s always smaller and forever!
