If you were born in 1960 or later, the age at which you can collect your full Social Security retirement benefit is no longer 65.
For most workers nearing retirement today, it now sits at 67.
Anyone born in 1960 reaches it this year, and everyone born after that keeps the same age of 67.
That number matters more than most people realize.
Claiming at 62, the earliest you can file, permanently shrinks your monthly check.
Claiming at 70, the latest worth waiting for, permanently increases it.
The gap between those two choices can run into hundreds of dollars a month for life.
Claim at 62 and your benefit is reduced by roughly 30% compared with your full retirement amount.
Wait until 70 and you earn delayed retirement credits of about 8% per year past your full retirement age.
On a $2,000 full benefit, that is a difference of well over $800 a month between the earliest and latest options.
Every month you delay is a month without a check, and you are drawing down savings or working longer to cover the gap.
For people with health problems, a physically demanding job, or no other income, filing early can be the smarter call even with the smaller payment.
There are two rules that surprise people every year.
First, if you claim before your full retirement age and keep working, Social Security temporarily withholds part of your benefit once your earnings pass a threshold.
Second, if you are married, the higher earner delaying benefits also protects the surviving spouse, because survivor benefits are based on the larger check.
Start by pulling your earnings record at ssa.gov and checking that every year of work is listed correctly.
Errors are common and they lower your payment.
Then look at the actual dollar figures for claiming at 62, at your full retirement age, and at 70 rather than guessing.
If you are still working and can hold off, running the break-even numbers is worth an afternoon.
A common rough guide is that waiting from 62 to 67 takes about 12 to 13 years of payments to catch up in total dollars.
Live past your early 80s and delaying usually wins.
Also treat any letter, call, or text offering to "unlock" a higher Social Security payment as a scam.
The Social Security Administration does not call demanding payment or ask you to verify your number to protect your benefits.
Hang up and call the agency directly at its published number.
One more practical move: if you already claimed and regret it, you may be able to withdraw your application within 12 months and repay what you received, or suspend benefits at full retirement age to earn delayed credits.
Both options have deadlines, so talk to the SSA before assuming you are stuck.
The bottom line is that 67 is now the default full retirement age, but it is not a deadline and it is not a recommendation.
The right filing age depends on your health, your savings, your spouse, and whether you still have a paycheck.
Final Thoughts
Run your own numbers before you let a calendar decide for you.