Social Security benefits go a long way for millions of retirees, lifting around 16 million adults age 65 and older out of poverty, according to 2023 data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The age at which you begin taking benefits will have an enormous impact on the size of your checks, which can make or break retirement for some older adults. Here's exactly what the average retiree collects at various ages from 62 to 70.
The average benefit by age
In most cases, you can begin taking retirement benefits as early as age 62. But to receive the full amount you're entitled to based on your work history, you'll need to wait until your full retirement age -- which is between ages 66 and 67, depending on your birth year.
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Waiting a few more years and claiming at age 70 will earn you even larger checks. While filing at 62 will shrink your benefit by up to 30% compared to what you'd receive at your full retirement age, claiming at 70 will earn you a bonus of up to 32% on top of your full benefit.
Everyone's benefit will differ slightly, as it's based on your career earnings and the number of years you've worked. But this is what the average retiree receives each month by age, according to December 2025 data from the Social Security Administration:
| Age | Average Monthly Benefit Amount |
|---|---|
| 62 | $1,424 |
| 63 | $1,436 |
| 64 | $1,478 |
| 65 | $1,607 |
| 66 | $1,807 |
| 67 | $2,017 |
| 68 | $2,053 |
| 69 | $2,097 |
| 70 | $2,275 |
Data source: Social Security Administration.
The average retired worker collects around $851 more per month at age 70 than at 62, adding up to roughly $10,212 per year.
There's no single best age to take Social Security, as the right choice will depend on your specific circumstances and goals. If you have a solid nest egg, filing earlier can help you enjoy a longer retirement. But if you're looking to maximize your monthly income, delaying claiming could boost your benefit amount by thousands of dollars per year.
