Overview
- Payments go out Feb. 11 for birthdays on the 1st–10th, Feb. 18 for the 11th–20th, and Feb. 25 for the 21st–31st, with SSI slated for Feb. 27.
- Under current law, those born in 1960 have a full retirement age of 67, marking the final step in the long-planned increase.
- Claiming at 62 permanently cuts monthly benefits by roughly one‑third versus waiting until full retirement age, with many breakeven analyses landing around ages 78–80.
- Illustrative maximums for a top earner starting in 2026 are $2,969 at 62, $4,152 at 67, and $5,181 at 70, though most retirees receive less.
- Benefits are based on the 35 highest‑earning years and capped by the 2026 taxable maximum of $184,500, and a one‑time withdrawal within 12 months requires repaying all received benefits to undo an early claim.