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Delayed retirement credits

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Social Security benefits are increased by a certain percentage (depending on date of birth) if you delay your retirement beyond full retirement age.

The benefit increase no longer applies when you reach age 70, even if you continue to delay taking benefits. 

Increase for Delayed Retirement
Year of Birth*
Yearly Rate of Increase
Monthly Rate of Increase
1933-1934 5.5% 11/24 of 1%
1935-1936 6.0% 1/2 of 1%
1937-1938 6.5% 13/24 of 1%
1939-1940 7.0% 7/12 of 1%
1941-1942 7.5% 5/8 of 1%
1943 or later 8.0% 2/3 of 1%
Note: If you were born on January 1st, you should refer to the rate of increase for the previous year.

If you've already reached full retirement age, you can choose to start receiving benefits before the month you apply. However, we cannot pay retroactive benefits for any month before you reached full retirement age or more than 6 months in the past.

Here's An Important Point: If you decide to delay your retirement, be sure to

sign up for just Medicare at age 65.

If you do not sign up, in some circumstances your Medicare coverage may be delayed and cost more.
 

Full retirement age is increasing from 65 to 67

If you delay benefits past your full retirement age, your year of birth and the number of months you delay determines how much your benefit can increase. If

Note: If you were born on January 1st, you should refer to the previous year.

 

Additional Information

What's the best time to start your retirement benefits? We're not recommending that you start at age 62, your full retirement age, age 70 or any age in between. Here's some additional information that may help you decide what's right for you.

  
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Last reviewed or modified Tuesday Jan 03, 2012
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