Every Senior Benefit

Social Security retirement benefits

In short: If you worked about 10 years in jobs that paid Social Security tax, you can get a monthly retirement benefit for life. You can start as early as 62, but your payment is smaller if you start before your full retirement age, and larger for each year you wait, up to age 70. Payments rise each year with the cost of living. For 2026 the increase was 2.8%.

Who can get it

  • You need 40 work credits, which is about 10 years of work. In 2026 you earn one credit for each $1,890 of earnings, up to 4 credits a year.
  • The years do not need to be in a row, and self-employment counts if you paid self-employment tax.
  • You can start benefits at 62 or any month after.
  • If you do not have enough credits, you may still get benefits on a spouse’s, former spouse’s or late spouse’s record. See spousal benefits and survivor benefits.

Your full retirement age

Your full retirement age is when you can get 100% of your benefit. It depends on the year you were born:

Year of birth Full retirement age
1943 to 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 or later 67

If you were born on January 1, use the year before.

How much it pays

Your benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for wage growth. If you worked fewer than 35 years, the missing years count as zero.

  • Starting early: Your monthly payment is cut for good. If your full retirement age is 67 and you start at 62, you get about 30% less.
  • Waiting: For each year you wait past full retirement age, your payment grows by 8%, until age 70. There is no gain from waiting past 70.
  • Average payment: In January 2026 the average retired worker received $2,071 a month.
  • Highest payment: The most a worker retiring at full retirement age can get in 2026 is $4,152 a month.

Your own estimate is in your free online account at ssa.gov/myaccount. It shows what you would get at each age from 62 to 70.

If you work while getting benefits

Before full retirement age, Social Security holds back some of your benefit if you earn more than a yearly limit:

  • Under full retirement age all year: the limit is $24,480 . Social Security holds back $1 for every $2 you earn above it.
  • In the year you reach full retirement age: the limit is $65,160, counting only earnings before the month you reach it. Social Security holds back $1 for every $3 above it.
  • From the month you reach full retirement age: there is no limit.

Money held back is not lost. At full retirement age your monthly payment is raised to make up for it.

Taxes on your benefits

Part of your benefit may be taxed if your “combined income” (adjusted gross income, plus tax-free interest, plus half of your benefits) is above $25,000 for a single person or $32,000 for a married couple filing jointly. Up to 85% of benefits can be taxed above $34,000 (single) or $44,000 (joint). You can ask Social Security to withhold federal tax from your payment.

Pensions from jobs without Social Security

Since January 2025, a pension from a job that did not pay Social Security tax (for example, some teachers, police and state workers) no longer reduces your Social Security benefit. The old rules, called the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, were ended by the Social Security Fairness Act.

How to apply

  • Online: ssa.gov/apply. This is the fastest way. You will need a free my Social Security account.
  • By phone: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Ask for a free interpreter if you need one.
  • In person: find your office at ssa.gov/locator. Call first to make an appointment.

When: You can apply up to 4 months before you want your payments to start.

What to have ready: your Social Security number, birth certificate or other proof of age, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful status if you were not born in the U.S., last year’s W-2 forms or self-employment tax return, military discharge papers if you served, and your bank account and routing number for direct deposit.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking Medicare starts with Social Security. Medicare starts at 65 even if your full retirement age is later. If you are not getting Social Security at 65, you must sign up for Medicare yourself. See Medicare.
  • Starting early without checking the survivor effect. If you are married and earned more than your spouse, waiting raises the survivor benefit your spouse may get after your death.
  • Paying for help to apply. Applying is free. Social Security staff and free local programs can help you.

Check what you may qualify for

Sources

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