Benefits Planner: Retirement | The Age You Start Receiving Benefits and the Age You Stop Working (2024)

Your retirement age is the age you begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits. For many people, this is not the same age you’ll stop working.

The age you stop working can affect the amount of your Social Security retirement benefits. We base your retirement benefit on your highest 35 years of earnings and the age you start receiving benefits.

If You Stop Work Before You Start Receiving Benefits

If you stop work before you start receiving benefits and you have less than 35 years of earnings, your benefit amount is affected. We use a zero for each year without earnings when we calculate the amount of retirement benefits you are due. Years with no earnings reduces your retirement benefit amount.

Even if you have 35 years of earnings when you stopped working, some of those years may be low-earning years. When you file for retirement benefits, those years are averaged into your calculation, creating a lower benefit. However, if you had continued to work, your low earning years are replaced with your high earning years. Higher earnings increase your benefit amount.

If You Stop Work Between Age 62 and Your Full Retirement Age

You can stop working before your full retirement age and receive reduced benefits. The earliest age you can start receiving retirement benefits is age 62. If you file for benefits when you reach full retirement age, you will receive full retirement benefits.

If You Stop Work After Full Retirement Age

If you choose to work beyond your full retirement age, you have two options:

  1. You can work and get full retirement benefits no matter how much you earn.

  2. You can delay getting retirement benefits and earn credits that increase your benefit amount.

Benefits Planner: Retirement | The Age You Start Receiving Benefits and the Age You Stop Working (2024)

FAQs

Benefits Planner: Retirement | The Age You Start Receiving Benefits and the Age You Stop Working? ›

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age

age
Most countries set the age of majority at 18, but some jurisdictions have a higher age and others lower. The word majority here refers to having greater years and being of full age as opposed to minority, the state of being a minor. The law in a given jurisdiction may not actually use the term "age of majority".
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Age_of_majority
62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

What happens if you stop working at full retirement age? ›

If You Stop Work After Full Retirement Age

You can delay getting retirement benefits and earn credits that increase your benefit amount.

At what age do you stop paying Social Security taxes? ›

Social Security can potentially be subject to tax regardless of your age. While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.

At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security benefits? ›

Full retirement age

If you were born in 1957 or earlier, you're already eligible for your full Social Security benefit. The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 until it reaches 67.

How much can I make if I retire at 62 and still work? ›

The earnings limit increases (to $56,520 in 2023) for the calendar year in which you'll reach full retirement age. Starting in the month you hit your full retirement age, there is no longer an earnings limit. Your benefits will no longer be reduced regardless of how much income you have.

Does your Social Security benefit increase if you stop working? ›

If you stop working, your benefits will not increase because of additional earnings. We calculate your benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If you stop working before you have 35 years of earnings, or you have low earnings for some years, this will affect your benefit calculation.

How much will my Social Security go down if I stop working? ›

In the case of early retirement, a benefit is reduced 5/9 of one percent for each month before normal retirement age, up to 36 months. If the number of months exceeds 36, then the benefit is further reduced 5/12 of one percent per month.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

At what age do seniors stop paying federal taxes? ›

Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. Basically, if you're 65 or older, you have to file a return for tax year 2023 (which is due in 2024) if your gross income is $15,700 or higher. If you're married filing jointly and both 65 or older, that amount is $30,700.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed IRS? ›

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

When a husband dies, does his wife get his Social Security? ›

Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. This benefit is particularly important for young families with children.

Can a married couple collect two Social Security checks? ›

If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit.

Can my husband's ex wife get his Social Security? ›

If they qualify, your ex-spouse, spouse, or child may receive a monthly payment of up to one-half of your retirement benefit amount. These Social Security payments to family members will not decrease the amount of your retirement benefit.

Why is retiring at 62 a good idea? ›

Reason to Retire Early #1: You'll Stay Healthier Longer

But not all work is good for you; sometimes it's detrimental to your health. Retiring at 62 from a backbreaking job or one with a disproportionately high level of stress can help you retain, or regain, your good health and keep it longer.

How much money will I lose if I retire at 62 instead of 65? ›

The earliest you can start taking Social Security retirement benefits is 62. However, the Social Security Administration reduces benefits by 30% for people who retire at 62, meaning they receive just 70% of their full retirement benefit each month for life. SSA.gov.

Will I receive full benefits at 67 if I retire at 62? ›

If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67 (En español) You can start your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the benefit amount you receive will be less than your full retirement benefit amount.

What happens to my Social Security if I quit my job? ›

If I stop working before I claim Social Security, will my monthly benefit amount be reduced? Strictly speaking, no. If, for example, you stop working at age 60 but wait until 67 to claim Social Security, your benefit will not be reduced because you did not work in those seven years.

What happens if you work less than 35 years for Social Security? ›

If you do not have 35 years of earnings by the time you apply for retirement benefits, your benefit amount will be lower than it would be if you worked 35 years. Years without work count as zeroes in the benefit calculation. Learn more at www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/Benefits.html.

What happens if you wait until after full retirement age? ›

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you aren't entitled to full benefits until you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

Can I work without penalty at full retirement age? ›

When you reach full retirement age: Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, your earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn. We will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for the months we reduced or withheld benefits due to your excess earnings.

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