Can a 63 year old draw Social Security?
Mia Ramsey
Published Apr 09, 2026
Age 63. It’s relatively unusual to claim Social Security payments at age 63. Only about 6% of new Social Security recipients enroll in the program at this age. Monthly Social Security payments are reduced if you sign up at age 63, but by less than if you claim payments at age 62.
How much can you make at age 63 and still draw Social Security?
The Social Security earnings limit is $1,580 per month or $18,960 per year in 2021 for someone age 65 or younger. If you earn more than this amount, you can expect to have $1 withheld from your Social Security benefit for every $2 earned above the limit.
To be clear, you are allowed to file for Social Security at 63. In fact, you can do so as early as age 62, and not surprisingly, that’s the most popular age to claim benefits. If you were to file for Social Security at age 63 with a full retirement age of 66, you’d lose about 20% of your monthly benefit amount.
When does an older spouse start claiming social security?
At that point, both spouses are claiming benefits based on the younger spouse’s earnings record. Then, at age 70, the older spouse claims benefits based on his or her own earnings record, which have increased to 132% of what that spouse would’ve been eligible for at FRA.
What happens if you claim social security at age 62?
If you decide to claim Social Security at age 62, your spousal benefit would be $650, or 35% less, said certified financial planner Peggy Sherman, a lead advisor at Briaud Financial Advisors in College Station, Texas. Also keep in mind that you would not get the benefit from your own record and the spousal benefit — you’d get the higher of the two.
Can you draw from your former spouse’s Social Security Account?
Drawing from your spouse’s account does not affect how much your spouse receives. What’s more, if you were married for at least 10 years and then divorced, the same rule applies. If you collect from your former spouse’s Social Security, they will not know you are doing it.
How old do you have to be to claim spousal benefits after divorce?
Be age 62 or taking care of a child who is age 16 or younger or disabled, who is the child of your spouse and who is also receiving Social Security benefits based on the spouse’s work record If you’re divorced, your benefits aren’t connected in the same way, so you can claim spousal benefits even if your ex isn’t collecting Social Security yet.