A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

When Should I Start Taking Social Security?

There are some things to consider before applying for Social Security. The earliest age you can apply, unless you have a long-term disability, is 62. At that time you can receive 75% of what you would have received if you had waited for full Social Security, accessed at 65 to 67, depending on your birth year.

You can receive Social Security retirement benefits while you work. However, if you are younger than the full retirement age and earn more than the yearly earnings limit, your benefits will be reduced. When you reach the full Social Security age, your benefits are not reduced by these earnings—no matter how much you earn.

If you are still working at your full age, your benefits may even increase because you are continuing to pay Social Security tax out of your paycheck. Another way to increase your benefits is to wait beyond your full age to start. The downside is that you will have lost some payments and therefore must live longer to catch up and surpass the payments that others your age have received.

For more information, check the Social Security website at socialsecurity.gov.

References: Social Security Administration, socialsecurity.gov