When Can You Get Benefits?
You can claim a spousal benefit as early as age 62, provided the principal beneficiary is receiving benefits. However, you maximize your spousal benefit by taking it at your full retirement age, presently 66 for most people.
The question of "when should you get benefits" is much more difficult to answer. We can help with our custom Social Security Retirement and Spouse Benefit Analysis!
Full Retirement Age by Year of Birth
| Year of Birth | Full Retirement Age |
|---|---|
| 1937 or earlier | 65 |
| 1938 | 65 and 2 months |
| 1939 | 65 and 4 months |
| 1940 | 65 and 6 months |
| 1941 | 65 and 8 months |
| 1942 | 65 and 10 months |
| 1943-1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months |
| 1960 and later | 67 |