Social Security delayed retirement: Can I claim anytime between FRA and 70?
Quick question about Social Security retirement timing that's been causing me some confusion. I'm reaching my full retirement age (FRA) next fall in 2025, but I'm thinking I might not need to start collecting right away since I'm still working and in decent financial shape. What I can't figure out is - if I don't claim at my FRA, do I have to wait all the way until 70 to start collecting? Or can I decide to start collecting at ANY point between my FRA and 70? For example, could I start at 67 and a half or 68 if my financial situation changes? I've been searching the SSA website but getting conflicting information. Thanks for any clarity!
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QuantumQuasar
You can absolutely claim your retirement benefits at ANY point between your FRA and age 70. There's no requirement to wait until specific ages or birthdays within that range. Each month you delay past FRA increases your benefit by 2/3 of 1% (or 8% per year). So if you decide to claim at 67 and 3 months, you'll get those extra 3 months of delayed retirement credits added to your benefit amount. The SSA will prorate the increase based on exactly when you apply. The only thing to be aware of is that once you decide to claim, that's it - you can't change your mind and get more delayed credits later. So choose carefully when the time is right for you!
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Mei Wong
•Thank you so much for clarifying! This makes the decision much less stressful knowing I have flexibility within that time period instead of just two options. Really appreciate the explanation about the monthly increases too.
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Liam McGuire
I think you have to pick either your FRA or 70...that's what my cousin told me when he applied. There's just those two options they give you.
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QuantumQuasar
•That's actually incorrect information. You can claim at any month after reaching your Full Retirement Age all the way up to 70. Each month provides additional delayed retirement credits. Your cousin may have been referring to the common advice that people often choose either FRA or wait until 70 to maximize benefits, but there are absolutely no restrictions on claiming at any point in between.
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Amara Eze
I was in your exact situation last year! I turned FRA in March 2024 but decided to wait a bit longer since I was still working part-time. I actually ended up filing when I was 67 and 4 months because of an unexpected home repair. The whole process was super easy - I just called SSA and said I wanted to start my benefits. They calculated my delayed retirement credits right there on the phone. Oh and btw - calling SSA directly was a nightmare until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me through to an actual SSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU So yes, definitely file whenever works best for YOU between FRA and 70. The flexibility is great!
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Mei Wong
•Thank you for sharing your experience! That's exactly the kind of flexibility I was hoping for. And thanks for the tip about Claimyr - I tried calling SSA last month about something else and gave up after being on hold forever. Will definitely check this out when I'm ready to file.
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Giovanni Greco
u can file ANY time u want!!! but remember that once u file thats IT cant go back and change ur mind so think careful about it
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Fatima Al-Farsi
I filed for SS at 68 and 2 months when I finally decided to fully retire. My monthly benefit was around $350 more than if I'd taken it at my FRA. The SSA representative explained that each month I delayed gave me approximately $25 more in monthly benefits in my case. Really adds up over time!
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Liam McGuire
•Wow thats a lot more money! Im turning 66 and 4 months next year which is my FRE I think. Maybe I should wait too.
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Dylan Wright
The Social Security Administration allows you to claim benefits at ANY point from FRA to age 70. Each month you delay gives you increased benefits through Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs). These accrue at the rate of 8% per year, or 2/3 of 1% per month. This is one reason why retirement planning is so individual. Some people benefit from claiming at exact points based on their cash flow needs, health situation, or other income sources. There's no "one size fits all" answer. Remember that these increased benefits will continue for your entire life, and could potentially affect survivor benefits for your spouse if applicable. I'd recommend running the numbers through the SSA calculator with several different claiming ages to see the actual dollar differences for your specific situation.
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Mei Wong
•Thanks for the detailed explanation! I hadn't considered the impact on survivor benefits - that's definitely something I need to factor in since my spouse would likely outlive me based on family history. I'll check out the SSA calculator.
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Sofia Torres
THEY DON'T TELL YOU THIS but if you wait past FRA your Medicare costs can go up!!! I waited til 68 to collect SS and got PENALIZED on Medicare Part B because my income looked too high when I wasn't getting SS yet. TOTAL SCAM!!! Make sure you understand the IRMAA rules before waiting too long!!!!!
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Dylan Wright
•This isn't entirely accurate. IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) is based on your modified adjusted gross income from 2 years prior, not whether you're collecting Social Security. If your income exceeds certain thresholds, you pay higher Medicare premiums regardless of your Social Security claiming status. However, you're right that coordination between Medicare and Social Security timing is important. Anyone approaching Medicare age should understand how these systems interact based on their specific financial situation.
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Amara Eze
One thing that really helped me decide when to claim between my FRA and 70 was calculating my "break-even point." Basically, I figured out how long I'd need to live for the higher monthly payment from waiting to be worth more than collecting sooner. For me, waiting until exactly 68 made the most sense based on my family health history and financial needs. The SSA actually won't give you break-even analysis (they stopped doing that years ago), but there are online calculators that can help. Everyone's situation is different!
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Mei Wong
Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! What a relief to know I have complete flexibility between FRA and 70. I think I'll probably wait at least a year past my FRA since I'm still working, but it's great to know I can claim anytime if circumstances change. Really appreciate all the insights about delayed retirement credits being calculated monthly too - that wasn't clear from what I was reading online.
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