Social Security monthly increase between FRA ages - how is benefit amount calculated mid-year?

Social Security benefits increase by a specific percentage for each month you delay claiming between your early retirement age and full retirement age (and beyond to age 70). It's not just calculated at yearly intervals but monthly. The increase is approximately 0.5% per month (or about 8% per year) if you're delaying past your Full Retirement Age, but the exact percentage depends on your birth year and whether you're before or after your FRA. For years before your FRA, the reduction is roughly 5/9 of 1% for each month (up to 36 months) before FRA. So yes, in your case, waiting those extra 6 months would give you something in between, but it won't be exactly halfway between the two amounts. The SSA has specific calculations for each month.

my sister did this last year. u dont get the exact half amount. SSA adds a little bit for each month u wait after ur birthday. she got like $35 more per month for each month she waited after 63. but the monthly increase gets bigger as u get closer to full retirement age i think

I TRIED calling SSA to ask this EXACT question last month!!!!! Spent THREE HOURS on hold and then got disconnected!!!!! TWICE!!!! This system is BROKEN!!!!!! Why can't they just post a simple chart showing EXACTLY how much you get for EACH MONTH???? Is that so hard????????

pretty sure ur benefit amount is determined by the month/year ur born so its not an even split. my cousin took ss at 63.5 and he said they added a certain percentage for each month. better to ask ssa directly tho cause theres lots of rules.

Good question! I was wondering about this too. Just started my benefits last month at 66.5 years old.

To give you a more precise answer: Your benefit amount will increase by a specific amount for each month you delay claiming, based on actuarial calculations. For someone born in 1961 or later: 1. If you claim BEFORE your Full Retirement Age (67 for you): - Benefits are reduced by 5/9 of 1% for each month (up to 36 months) before FRA - Any additional months are reduced by 5/12 of 1% per month 2. If you claim AFTER your Full Retirement Age: - Benefits increase by 2/3 of 1% for each month (8% per year) until age 70 So in your case at age 64.5, you'd get your age 64 benefit plus 6 months of delayed retirement credits. The SSA has a calculator on their website where you can enter your specific birth date and planned filing date to see the exact amount. Regarding the best month to start, there's no universal answer - it depends on your specific situation. However, be aware that benefits are paid the month AFTER they're due. So if you file in January, your first payment would arrive in February.

My sister works at the SS office and she told me they add a little bit for each month between birthdays. But the big thing she said people forget is that when u apply matters too because u can only backdate ur application by 6 months from when u file.

dont u also have to think about what month u start for medicare stuff? i think theres rules about that too but i dont remember the details

Has anyone actually TALKED to a real person at SSA about this lately?? Their website is so CONFUSING and every time I try to call I'm on hold FOREVER! Do they even have customer service anymore or did they fire everyone???

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I think I understand it better now - the increase is calculated monthly rather than jumping at birthdays, and the exact percentage depends on whether I'm before or after my full retirement age. I'll check the SSA calculator to get a more precise number for my situation and maybe use Claimyr to actually talk to someone at SSA to confirm everything. Definitely feeling better informed now!

One thing to keep in mind is that Social Security benefits are calculated based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) and then adjusted for the age at which you claim. The monthly adjustments are applied using actuarial tables, so it's not a simple linear calculation between the annual amounts you see on your statement. Also, since you mentioned you're turning 64 in August 2025, your Full Retirement Age is likely 67 (if you were born in 1961 or later). This means claiming at 64 would give you a reduced benefit, and the reduction lessens each month you wait until you reach your FRA. The SSA applies these reductions/increases on a month-by-month basis, not just annually. If you want the most accurate calculation, I'd recommend using the SSA's online retirement estimator tool where you can input your exact birth date and proposed claim date. It will give you a much more precise figure than trying to interpolate between the annual amounts on your statement.