Social Security is a big deal as workers approach retirement. People pay into the program through taxes, often for decades before it is their turn to collect benefits which are intended to help them retire with more savings and live more easily in retirement.
However, Social Security means different things for different people. For some who have saved millions for retirement, it is inconsequential. Meanwhile, others rely on Social Security as a primary source of income. Either way, as you approach retirement, it's a good idea to start thinking about what age you want to claim Social Security and how much in benefits you might be eligible for, which will help with future budgeting.
Here's the average Social Security benefit at age 67, which is the full retirement age for people born in 1960 or after.
Why 67 is an important age
One critical decision retirees must make when claiming Social Security is what age to claim benefits. Barring a few exceptions, most retirees can claim Social Security as soon as age 62 and as late as age 70. The catch is that the earlier they claim, the less in benefits they will be able to collect. The purpose of this rule is to ensure, as best as possible, that people collect the same amount of benefits over their lifetime.
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When retirees choose to collect benefits really depends on their situation upon entering retirement. If you are 62 and dealing with health or financial challenges, then claiming early could certainly make sense. However, if you're financially comfortable and not dealing with significant health issues, it may be best to wait as long as you can to take advantage of higher benefits.
Age 67 is an important number in Social Security because it's the full retirement age for those born in 1960 or after. The full retirement age is the age at which retirees can claim the full amount of benefits to which they are entitled. A person's full benefit amount will be based on the number of years they worked and the level of earnings earned throughout their careers, and therefore how much they paid in Social Security taxes.
If a retiree claims Social Security at 62, the benefits they are entitled to could be cut by as much as 30%. If a retiree waits until age 70, they could see their benefits increase by as much as 24%. That's why benefits at 67 is an important number for people because it shows their baseline, which is how they determine how their benefits will be impacted should they claim early or delay benefits.
Average benefits at 67
According to the Social Security Administration's 2025 annual statistical snapshot, the average retiree benefit at age 67 is nearly $2,163 per month, or $25,956 annually. The average amount among men and women actually varies significantly, with men at age 67 collecting an average monthly retirement amount of $2,393 and women collecting roughly $1,915.
The average monthly benefit amount at 67 compares favorably to the average of all retired workers. In August 2025, the average retiree's Social Security check was roughly $2,008 per month, likely because people tend to claim benefits early. It's also important to note that the average amount at 67 does not include next year's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). While we don't know the COLA just yet, the non-partisan Senior Citizens League is predicting 2.7% next year, which would bring the average check for retirees at 67 to roughly $2,221 per month or $26,656 per year.
While retirement benefits are typically higher at 67 compared to claiming early, there is no right answer when it comes to deciding at what age to claim benefits. Retirees need to consider where they are in life and make a decision based on what's best for their specific situation.
