Claiming Social Security at 62? How to Know If the Math Works for You.

The age you begin taking Social Security will have a profound effect on your retirement, sometimes influencing your benefit amount by hundreds of dollars per month.

The average retiree collects roughly $2,000 per month in benefits, but the earlier you file, the less you’ll receive. Here’s how to determine whether claiming at 62 is right for your retirement.

How your age affects your benefit amount

Your benefit amount is based on three main factors: the length of your career, your lifetime earnings, and the age you begin claiming Social Security.

To receive the full benefit you’re entitled to based on your work history, you’ll need to file at your full retirement age (FRA). Your FRA will depend on your birth year, but it’s between ages 66 and 67 for everyone.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

The earlier you file, the smaller your monthly payments will be. Filing at age 62 will reduce your benefits by 30% if you have an FRA of 67. These reductions are permanent, too, so expect to receive smaller checks for the rest of your life if you file early.

According to data from the Social Security Administration, the average retiree collects around $592 more per month at age 67 than at 62. At age 70, that difference jumps to $851 per month.

Data source: Social Security Administration. Table by author.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that claiming early is wrong, as your filing decision will depend on your unique situation. However, finances will be a major factor to consider, as your claiming age can have an enormous impact on your monthly income.

Is claiming at 62 right for you?

If you’re considering filing as early as possible at age 62, you’ll likely need a hefty nest egg to make up for the smaller monthly payments. Social Security was only designed to replace around 40% of pre-retirement income, so ideally, it shouldn’t be your primary income source.

For many older adults, though, that’s a struggle. Nearly 30% of retirees rely on their benefits as their only source of income, according to The Motley Fool’s annual Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment Survey. In addition, around 54% of retirees report having to return to work because Social Security isn’t enough to fund their retirement.

There’s also a possibility that benefit cuts could be coming. According to the Social Security Board of Trustees’ latest estimates, the program’s trust funds are expected to run out by 2034. At that point, Social Security’s income sources will only be enough to cover around 81% of scheduled benefits, meaning payments could be slashed by nearly 20% in the next decade if nothing changes.

If you can swing it financially, claiming early can give you a head start on early retirement. But if you’re going to be relying heavily on Social Security to make ends meet, make sure you know how filing at 62 will affect the size of your checks.