Retirement Social Security

Statistics Say This Is the Best Age to Claim Social Security

Here's what the research says about when to file for benefits.

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Oct. 31, 2026

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If you're anywhere close to retirement age, you may be wondering when the absolute best time is to claim your Social Security benefits. The answer may be found in the data, and we have some statistics to help you see what looks best on paper.

Should you use this number in all cases? Your retirement plan should still be personalized to your needs and goals. But if you're curious about what the numbers show and how to apply them to your situation, read on.

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Research points to this age

A November 2022 NBER working paper found that more than 90% of workers ages 45–62 would benefit from waiting until age 70 to claim Social Security, according to the researchers' model. This finding came from modeling household survey data; however, it isn't a personalized recommendation for every worker.

Researchers used household survey data and their own model to compare claiming strategies and lifetime spending, not just who got the most benefit checks.

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Why waiting produces a bigger monthly check

The Social Security Administration defines full retirement age (FRA) as 67 for those born in 1960 and later. For those with an FRA of 67, claiming at 62 generally means a monthly benefit 30% lower than they would receive by waiting until FRA.

If they wait even longer, they could see additional benefit boosters via delayed retirement credits. Here's how they work: After FRA, benefits increase by 8% of the full-retirement-age amount for each year of delay, stopping at 70. So, someone with an FRA of 67 could get 124% of the full benefit at 70.

What this looks like in actual dollars

Let's compare how each check could look in different situations. The SSA's September 2026 snapshot lists the average retired-worker benefit at $2,088.79. For illustration, we'll use that amount as a hypothetical full-retirement-age benefit for someone whose FRA is 67 — not as the actual average benefit for people claiming at that age.

If claimed at 62, it would be about $1,462 a month.
If claimed at 67, it would be about $2,089 a month.
If claimed at 70, it would be about $2,590 a month.

The monthly gap between claiming at 62 and 70 would be about $1,128. This illustration doesn't include future cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) or the payments received during the years before age 70.

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Health and near-term income needs change things

These "bigger if you wait" check amounts may seem like reason enough to put off claiming until age 70. But a few factors can change how practical delaying benefits may be for your real-life concerns. Waiting means forgoing years of smaller payments, which some people can't afford.

Will you live long enough for larger payments to offset those forgone benefits? No one can know for sure, but your health and family longevity can help inform the decision.

If you stop working well before 70 and need the income to pay for housing, food, insurance, and other expenses, waiting may not be practical. And if you have serious health concerns that could significantly shorten your life, you may be better off getting what you can when you can.

Where spousal benefits come in

The dollar examples above show benefits based on your own work record, without considering any spousal benefits you may qualify for. A spousal benefit can reach up to 50% of the worker's full-retirement-age benefit, but it doesn't earn delayed retirement credits beyond the receiving spouse's FRA.

In this way, waiting until age 70 just to increase a spousal benefit doesn't work the same way as delaying your own benefit. But claiming a spousal benefit early can still reduce it. Consider the above factors, such as health, lifespan, and current income needs, when deciding when to claim. Survivor benefits are a separate consideration: Delaying your own retirement benefit can increase the survivor benefit available to an eligible spouse after your death.

Why couples claim at different ages

Even if you figure out the right claiming age for you, it may not be the right one for a spouse. One spouse may choose to claim earlier, getting access to regular income right away, while the other delays claiming for that larger benefit check.

Age differences, benefit amounts, and longevity will affect how you approach this strategy. If one spouse decides to work longer, that income may make delaying benefits more practical. If either spouse claims benefits while working before FRA, earnings above certain limits can cause some benefit payments to be withheld.

Delaying the higher earner's benefit can also increase survivor protection for the other spouse.

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Bottom line

Age 70 stands out in this research study, but it may not be the perfect claiming age for you. When considering health, bridge income, household budget, and the longevity and needs of a spouse, things get more complicated.

Whatever you decide, remember that delaying senior benefits doesn't delay Medicare, so address that as its own concern with prompt enrollment for your health care situation.

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