Overview
- Claiming while still working can push more of your check into federal income tax because the IRS counts your wages, half your benefit and some nontaxable interest as combined income.
- Before full retirement age, the Social Security earnings test in 2026 with a $24,480 limit cuts $1 from benefits for every $2 you earn above that cap.
- Benefits can start at 62, reach 100% at a full retirement age around 66 to 67, and grow about 8% a year until age 70 when the monthly amount hits its maximum.
- For married couples, a higher-earning spouse who delays can raise the survivor benefit the other would receive.
- Planners often advise using savings in your 60s to bridge income so you can wait to claim and lock in larger, inflation-adjusted checks for life.