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The Daily Insight

How soon after I turn 62 can I retire?

Author

Emma Jordan

Published Mar 03, 2026

The earliest you can apply is four months before the month you want your benefits to start, and the earliest your benefits can start is your first full month as a 62-year-old. For example, if you turn 62 in June, your benefits can begin in July, and you can apply as early as March.

How do I start a retirement at 62?

How Early Can I Apply? Apply four months before you want your Social Security retirement benefits to start. If you want your benefits to start at age 62, you can apply at age 61 and 9 months.

What happens to my Social Security if I retire before 62?

If you retire early, your benefit gets reduced by 5/9 of 1% for each month you collect Social Security before your full retirement age (up to 36 months). If you retire more than 36 months early, your Social Security benefit will be reduced by another 5/12 of 1% per extra month.

Is it better to retire at 62 or 67?

However, just because you can start benefits does not mean that you should. Your monthly Social Security paycheck increases significantly for every month and year you delay starting, up until your full retirement age (around age 67). Waiting to start Social Security can mean up to $100,000 in additional money over your lifetime.

What happens if Bill retires at age 62?

Suppose our fictitious “Bill” retires with $400,000 at the age of 62 and begins to collect his $1,450 monthly Social Security benefit. Unfortunately, that amount is less than half of what he needs to maintain his current lifestyle, so he supplements it by withdrawing $2,000 each month from his retirement savings.

Can you take Social Security at the age of 62?

It’s a fact that you may start claiming Social Security benefits at the age of 62, but you will not receive 100% of your monthly benefit if you do. You must wait until your full retirement age to get that. And if you can afford to wait a bit longer, you can get even more. Check this out: Look at the table below.

When is the best time to retire at full retirement age?

If you’re in good health and longevity runs in your family, financial planners often recommend waiting until full retirement age — currently 67 — if you can afford it, to maximize your lifetime benefits.