Delaying Social Security to 70 Lifts Monthly Benefits 77% Over Claiming at 62
Updated
Updated · moneycrashers.com · Sep 7
Delaying Social Security to 70 Lifts Monthly Benefits 77% Over Claiming at 62
2 articles · Updated · moneycrashers.com · Sep 7
Summary
Workers born in 1960 or later can raise lifetime monthly Social Security checks by 77% by waiting until 70 instead of claiming at 62.
The gain comes from the benefit formula: claiming at 62 locks in 70% of full retirement age benefits, while waiting to 70 lifts payouts to 124%, including 8% annual delayed-retirement credits after age 67.
Cost-of-living adjustments then compound on that larger base, widening the dollar gap over time; the break-even point typically falls around age 80.
The strategy works best for healthy retirees with other income, who can bridge the gap by working longer or drawing down IRA and other retirement accounts first.
Married couples can benefit further because a higher earner's delayed check becomes the survivor benefit, but waiting past 70 adds nothing because the credits stop.