Here's the Average Social Security Benefit at Age 62

Age 62 is the earliest age you can collect Social Security. As of December 2025, the most recent data available, the average benefit for people aged 62 is $1,424.40 per month, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). It's a popular claiming age for those who need immediate cash flow once they stop working.

The SSA bases your check on an average of your wages across your 35 highest-earning years, with earlier wages adjusted for inflation and run through the primary insurance amount (PIA) formula. Claiming early provides years of extra checks, but it also comes with a permanent reduction in your monthly income.

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What 62-year-olds collect

Full retirement age (FRA) ranges from 66 to 67, depending on your birth year, and it's 67 for everyone born in 1960 or later. If your full retirement age is 67, claiming at 62 means a 30% cut to your monthly check. For those with a full retirement age of 66, that reduction is 25%. The table below shows the effects of that cut on average benefits.

Benefits also vary by gender. Men at age 62 receive an average of $1,572.83 per month, while women receive $1,285.50 per month, a monthly gap of $287.33. These figures reflect differences in average career earnings and are based on SSA data from the December 2025 period.

Should you claim Social Security at 62?

Waiting to apply for Social Security can significantly change the math because of delayed retirement credits, the increase you earn for delaying past full retirement age, worth 8% per year, up to age 70. The average check for 70-year-olds is $2,274.68 per month, which is $850.28 more than the age-62 average, or about $10,203.36 per year.

A 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will take effect in 2027. That adjustment will add about $51 a month on top of the age-62 average. These adjustments are designed to help your purchasing power keep pace with inflation, though they can vary from year to year.

Social Security is supplemental income. It was designed to replace about 40% of pre-retirement wages, which is well short of what most retirees need to cover their expenses. Most seniors rely on savings or other income sources to fill that gap.

Whether you should claim early depends on your health and financial needs. Men at 65 are expected to live about 18 more years, while women are expected to live about 21 more. You tend to receive roughly the same total over your lifetime regardless of when you claim, if you live an average lifespan.

If you're benchmarking your own plan, remember that these averages reflect a wide range of work histories, so your personal benefit will depend on your own high-earning years.

Special considerations for married couples

Married individuals also have to think about how their claiming age will affect their spouse's benefits. Your partner cannot claim a spousal benefit on your work record until you are receiving retirement benefits. By applying for Social Security at 62, you clear the way for them to apply for spousal benefits whenever they are ready.

But you're also permanently reducing the survivor benefit they'll qualify for after your death. This is worth up to 100% of the benefit you qualify for or are receiving at the time of your death. If you expect your spouse to be heavily dependent upon these checks, it can make more sense to delay your Social Security claim until you're eligible for a larger benefit.

Sit down with your spouse and discuss your options to make sure you're both on the same page before you decide when to claim. Make sure you keep each other in the loop if one of you wants to change the plan down the road.

For more on how Social Security affects your retirement, see this guide.

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