RetirementNeuron

Social Security

Social Security retirement benefits can start as early as 62. Waiting past full retirement age increases the monthly benefit through delayed retirement credits until age 70. The useful comparison is the household’s, not a single recommended age.

Claiming ages

Full retirement age is 67 for people born in 1960 or later. Claiming earlier reduces the monthly benefit. Delaying after full retirement age earns delayed retirement credits through age 70. RetirementNeuron uses the birth date on a household plan when it estimates those ages.

Working while a benefit is in pay can change the result before full retirement age under Social Security’s earnings rules. Those rules are set by the Social Security Administration. The product estimates them. It does not file a claim.

Household benefits and taxes

Each spouse has a claiming age. Spousal benefits and, later, survivor benefits depend on the earnings records and the ages involved. One spouse can claim earlier while the other delays, which changes how much the portfolio covers in the bridge years.

A portion of Social Security may be taxable on the federal return. Some states exclude benefits from state taxable income and some do not. Medicare is a separate federal program, but the claiming decision still changes household income in the years around enrollment.

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Educational planning software—not investment, tax, legal, Medicare, or Social Security advice. Projections depend on your inputs and assumptions. Optional professional review is separate when available.