Delaying Social Security Can Add Up
Determining when to collect Social Security benefits may be one of the most significant retirement planning decisions you will make. Not only will it define the size of your monthly benefit, but also the amount of Social Security income you collect over your lifetime—proving that time really is money.
In simplest terms, your Social Security benefit amounts are based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), the monthly benefit you are eligible to receive at Full Retirement Age (FRA). This number is located on page two of your Social Security statement (available at ssa.gov).
The Cost of Collecting Too Early
You may begin collecting Social Security benefits as early as age 62—but with a consequence. Collecting before your FRA means locking in a permanent reduction in monthly payments. Assuming your FRA is 66, your benefit would be reduced by 25% at 62. If your FRA is 67, your benefit would be reduced by 30%. Your FRA is determined by when you were born. You can find your FRA at http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/ageincrease.htm. This reduction will decrease for each month you wait after age 62, up until your FRA.
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