Understanding how Social Security benefits work can be a challenge. There are a lot of rules, the formulas can seem complex, and making decisions with incomplete or incorrect information could end up costing you. For that reason, it's important to work with financial professionals to a develop Social Security claiming strategy your overall retirement income plan.
Before you make decisions about claiming this valuable benefit, let's clear up some of the most common myths about Social Security that could undermine your ability to generate the income you'll need in retirement.
Myth #1: You must claim your Social Security benefit at age 62
Some people think you must claim your Social Security benefits at age 62, but that's a myth. Age 62 is the earliest you can claim your benefits, but it's not the only age to do so.
Your base benefit is calculated according to your "full retirement age," or FRA. It's determined by your date of birth. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your base Social Security benefit based on your average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most (only the years that you paid Social Security taxes).
Tip: You'll find your FRA at Social Security's website, SSA.gov , or on a paper statement mailed to you by the SSA. If you were born in 1960 or later, your FRA is 67.
If you claim Social Security benefits before your FRA, you lock in a permanent reduction in monthly income. Claiming at 62 translates to a reduced monthly income of 30%, relative to your FRA monthly benefit (assuming you were born after 1960 and have an FRA of 67). That means, you may receive less monthly retirement income each year, for potentially several decades. A key consideration for when you claim your benefits is maximizing your income for a retirement that could last longer than 30 years.
Wait until age 70 and lock in a "bonus":
- Delaying until your FRA prevents you from locking in a reduction as high as 30%.
- If your FRA is 67, your monthly income would increase 24% by waiting from 67 to 70.
- If your FRA is 67, your monthly income would increase around 77% by waiting from 62 to 70.
To learn more about aging and how retirement is being redefined, read Viewpoints on Fidelity.com: Longevity and retirement
Myth #2: You'll never get back all the money you put into the program
Everyone's situation is different, but if you live a long time, you may collect more than you contributed to the system.
Social Security is designed to provide a safety net of income for the retired, the disabled, and survivors of deceased insured workers. The contributions you and your employers make during your working years provide:
- Current retirees and other Social Security recipients with payments
- A guaranteed lifetime income benefit when you reach retirement
While the government does not have a specific account set aside just for you with your FICA contributions (the taxes for Social Security and Medicare paid by you and your employer), Social Security is an inflation-protected guaranteed income stream in retirement. It ensures against the risk you'll outlive your savings. Even if you live to 100 or older, you'll continue to receive income every month. If you're married and you predecease your spouse, your spouse can also receive survivor benefits until their death, if higher than their own benefits.
Myth #3: My ex-spouse's actions could negatively impact my Social Security benefits
If you have an ex-spouse (of more than 10 consecutive years), you may be entitled to spousal benefits. If so, and you have not remarried, you can claim divorced spousal Social Security benefits before your FRA (although the monthly payment amount will be reduced in comparison to claiming at FRA, which qualifies you to receive up to 50% of your ex-spouse's full retirement amount).
If you wish to claim on divorced spousal benefits, make an appointment with your local SSA office and bring documents that prove the marriage and divorce. They will calculate your benefit options, and when you submit your claim, you'll receive the higher benefit.
Tip: There's no need to discuss this with your ex-spouse, and your claim does not reduce or affect your ex's benefits in any way, and vice versa. Your claim may be larger than your own individual benefits.
To learn more on when you're eligible for a spousal benefit on your ex-spouse's work record, read Viewpoints on Fidelity.com: Unraveling Social Security rules for ex-spouses
Myth #4: Your benefits are based only on wages you've earned before age 65
How your Social Security benefits are calculated can seem mysterious, but understanding a few essential facts may help in determining your claiming strategy. You can also use the tools on SSA.gov for help with calculations and planning.
- Your benefits are calculated based on your highest 35 years of earnings; they don't have to be consecutive years or before age 65.
- If you work past age 65, those earning years will be included, as long as they are high enough to be part of your highest 35 years.
- Even working part-time after turning 65 may be part of your highest 35 years of earnings.
- To be eligible for Social Security, you must have a minimum of 10 years of covered employment (that is, employment periods during which Social Security contributions were made), which equates to 40 credits in the Social Security system. The 2025 income requirement is $1,810 for each credit.
- If you don't have 35 years with earnings, zeros will be included in the calculation.
To learn more, read Viewpoints on Fidelity.com: Social Security tips for working retirees
Myth #5: You can claim early, then get an increase once you reach full retirement age
Many believe there is an increase or added income once they reach their FRA. They've heard they can claim early at 62, then when they reach 66 or older, their checks will increase to the amount that corresponds to their FRA benefit. That's a big misperception.
There's no increase in income once you've claimed your Social Security retirement benefit. However, anyone receiving a benefit can voluntarily "suspend" that benefit after they reach FRA and resume it as late as age 70. If they do, the annual benefit will increase by 8% per year of delay up until age 70. After that, you get an annual cost of living adjustment, but no increase in your base benefit, which will start automatically the month you reach age 70 unless you specify otherwise.
To learn more, read Viewpoints on Fidelity.com: Social Security do-over: Claim, suspend, and restart
Alternatively, you can generally cancel your Social Security claim if you do so within the first 12 months of receiving benefits.2 You must repay the full amount you've received, and the full amount a current spouse or family member received based on your benefit. Then, you're eligible to claim again at a later date and will receive a larger monthly payment. Each individual can only cancel a claim once in their lifetime.
Checklist for your Social Security claiming strategy
Start planning early
Claiming Social Security is an important part of your retirement income plan, but it takes some time to understand the options—and the implications to your savings. Social Security can form the bedrock of your retirement income plan because your benefits are inflation-protected, and will last for the rest of your life. Consider working with your Fidelity financial professional to explore options on how and when to claim your benefits.