Social Security Claiming-Age Breakeven
Example: Your monthly benefit at full retirement age (67): 2000 $ · Life expectancy (age): 84 yrs
| Breakeven age: claim 62 vs 67 | 78.7 |
| Breakeven age: claim 67 vs 70 | 82.5 |
| Lifetime total if you claim at 62 | $369,600 |
| Lifetime total if you claim at 67 | $408,000 |
| Lifetime total if you claim at 70 | $416,640 |
Worked example
With a $2,000 FRA benefit and a life expectancy of 84, claiming at 62 pays $1,400/month. The breakeven vs claiming at 67 ($2,000/month) lands around age 78.5 — meaning you need to live past 78 for delay to pay off. If you live to 84, claiming at 67 yields $24,000 more in total lifetime benefits than claiming at 62.
Frequently asked questions
What is my full retirement age?
For anyone born in 1960 or later, full retirement age (FRA) is 67 per SSA rules. Those born 1955–1959 have an FRA between 66 and 67. Check ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html for your exact year.
What happens if I claim at 62?
Claiming at 62 permanently reduces your benefit by up to 30% if your FRA is 67. For each month before FRA, your benefit is reduced 5/9 of 1% for the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% beyond that.
Does delaying past 67 always win?
Not if you have a short life expectancy. The delayed-claiming advantage requires living past the breakeven age. Poor health, family history, or a surviving spouse who would receive your record all shift the math — this tool shows the crossover so you can weigh your own probability.
What are delayed retirement credits?
For each month you delay past FRA (up to age 70), SSA adds delayed retirement credits at a rate of 8% per year. Claiming at 70 instead of 67 therefore boosts your benefit by 24%, permanently — and adjusts for inflation via annual COLA each year.