General education, not personalized advice. Confirm current rules at the sources below.
It is a trade-off, not a trick
In general, claiming earlier means smaller monthly payments for longer, and claiming later means larger monthly payments for fewer years. Which is better depends on your health, family, other income and risk tolerance.
Couples and survivors
Choices by one spouse can affect the other, including survivor benefits. Couples often benefit from looking at the decision together.
Start with your record
Create or sign in to your personal account with the Social Security Administration to review your earnings history and benefit estimates directly from the source.
Independence
PGW is not affiliated with the SSA or any government agency. This draft article is educational and contains no specific benefit figures because rules change.