Social Security Age Requirements

Full retirement age (FRA) is the age when you can claim 100% of your Social Security retirement benefit. It depends on your birth year: 66 for those born 1943-1954, gradually increasing to 67 for those born in 1960 or later. For example, if you were born in 1958, your FRA is 66 and 8 months. You can find your exact FRA using the Social Security retirement age chart.

Yes, age 62 is the earliest age you can claim Social Security retirement benefits. However, claiming at 62 results in a permanently reduced benefit - up to 30% less than your full retirement age benefit if your FRA is 67. The reduction is calculated based on the number of months before your FRA that you claim. This reduction is permanent and affects your benefit for life.

Delayed retirement credits are increases to your Social Security benefit if you delay claiming past your full retirement age. For each year you delay (up to age 70), your benefit increases by 8%. For example, if your FRA is 67 and you wait until 70, your benefit will be 24% higher. There's no benefit to waiting past age 70, as credits stop accruing.

There is no specific age requirement for SSDI - you can qualify at any age if you meet the disability and work credit requirements. However, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain period (generally 5 out of the last 10 years). At full retirement age, SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at the same payment amount.

For SSI (Supplemental Security Income), you must be either: (1) age 65 or older, OR (2) blind or disabled at any age, AND have limited income and resources. Unlike Social Security retirement, SSI is based on financial need rather than work history, so there's no work credit requirement.

Most people become eligible for Medicare at age 65, regardless of their Social Security full retirement age. You can enroll in Medicare starting 3 months before the month you turn 65. If you're already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. If you have SSDI, you become eligible for Medicare after receiving disability benefits for 24 months.

Your spouse can claim spousal benefits as early as age 62, but the benefit will be reduced if claimed before their full retirement age. At FRA, a spouse can receive up to 50% of your full retirement benefit. If your spouse claims at 62, they'll receive only about 32.5% of your benefit (if their FRA is 67). Your spouse must wait until you file for your own benefits before they can claim spousal benefits.

Unmarried children can receive benefits on a parent's Social Security record if they are: (1) under age 18, OR (2) age 18-19 and a full-time student (through grade 12), OR (3) age 18 or older and disabled before age 22. The child can receive up to 50% of the parent's full retirement benefit. Benefits automatically end when the child no longer meets these age and status requirements.