Official Medicare Publications & Guides

When to Start Social Security Benefits: A Guide for Medicare Recipients

This SSA publication guides Medicare recipients through the key factors affecting Social Security retirement benefit timing, including full retirement age, delayed claiming credits, working while receiving benefits, and how your decision affects a surviving spouse's future income.

Jan 31, 2026 · 6 min read

Credit: Markus Winkler / Unsplash

Who Should Read This

This publication is written for people who already have Medicare and are trying to decide when to start collecting their Social Security retirement benefits. It's especially useful for adults between the ages of 62 and 70 who are weighing the pros and cons of claiming benefits early, waiting until full retirement age, or delaying even longer.

If you are a spouse or adult child helping a loved one navigate this decision, this publication also applies to you. The timing of Social Security benefits affects not just the beneficiary but potentially a surviving spouse as well, making this a family financial planning concern.

Caregivers and financial advocates helping seniors manage their benefits and income will also find this material helpful as a starting point for understanding how the Social Security system works alongside Medicare.

Quick Overview

This publication from the Social Security Administration explains how and when Medicare recipients can begin collecting Social Security retirement benefits. It covers how full retirement age is determined, how delaying benefits increases monthly payments, and how working while receiving benefits can affect what you collect. The original publication is a concise two-page document designed as a plain-language guide for people already enrolled in Medicare who have not yet claimed Social Security retirement benefits.

Key Takeaways

Full retirement age is now 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. For those born between 1943 and 1954, full retirement age is 66. Those born between 1955 and 1959 fall somewhere in between and can use the SSA's Retirement Age Calculator at ssa.gov to find their exact age.
Delaying benefits beyond full retirement age increases your monthly payment by up to 8% per year, up until age 70. After age 70, there is no additional increase for waiting.
You can work and still collect Social Security, but if you are under full retirement age, there are limits on how much you can earn before benefits are temporarily reduced.
In 2026, the annual earnings limit is $24,480 for those under full retirement age all year. For people reaching full retirement age during 2026, the limit is $65,160 for the months before their birthday.
A surviving spouse may be eligible for benefits based on your work record, and the longer you wait to claim, the higher that survivor benefit will be.
Online tools at SSA.gov allow you to estimate your benefit under different scenarios before making a decision.
You can apply for benefits online up to four months before you want them to start at ssa.gov/apply.

Publication Summary

One of the biggest financial decisions a Medicare recipient faces is choosing when to start collecting Social Security retirement benefits. The timing of that choice has a direct and lasting impact on the monthly income a person receives for the rest of their life.

Understanding Full Retirement Age

Full retirement age — sometimes called FRA — is the age at which a person is entitled to receive 100% of their Social Security retirement benefit. It is determined by the year you were born. For anyone born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. For those born between 1943 and 1954, it is 66. Those born between 1955 and 1959 have a full retirement age somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on their exact birth year. The SSA Retirement Age Calculator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html can help those individuals find their specific age.

How Waiting Affects Your Monthly Benefit

Choosing to delay benefits beyond full retirement age means receiving a larger monthly check. Benefits grow by roughly two-thirds of one percent for each month you wait past full retirement age, which adds up to about 8% for every full year of delay. This continues up to age 70. There is no financial benefit to waiting past age 70 — benefits stop growing at that point regardless.

To illustrate, the publication uses an example of someone with a monthly benefit of $1,000 at a full retirement age of 66 and 6 months. Waiting just one year to age 67 would grow that payment to $1,040. By age 68, it would be $1,120. By age 69, $1,200. And by age 70, the monthly amount would be $1,280. That is a meaningful difference, especially when you consider that people are living longer than ever before.

Planning for a Long Retirement

Longevity is a key factor in this decision. The average 65-year-old today is expected to live to age 85. About one in three 65-year-olds will live to at least age 90, and about one in seven will reach age 95. That means retirement income may need to last 20 to 30 years or more. Claiming benefits too early could mean smaller monthly checks over a very long retirement, while delaying can provide more financial security in later years.

Protecting a Surviving Spouse

For married individuals, the timing of Social Security has implications beyond their own retirement. If you pass away before your spouse, your spouse may be eligible for a survivor benefit based on your work record. The higher your monthly benefit was at the time of your death, the more your surviving spouse can receive. Waiting to claim — and therefore locking in a higher monthly amount — can serve as a form of financial protection for a surviving partner.

Working While Receiving Benefits

Many people continue working after they start collecting Social Security. The rules allow it, but there are earnings limits for those who have not yet reached full retirement age. In 2026, if you are under full retirement age for the entire year, you can earn up to $24,480 without any impact on your benefits. If you earn more than that, Social Security will temporarily withhold $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. For those who will reach full retirement age during 2026, the limit is $65,160 for the months before reaching that age, with $1 withheld for every $3 earned above it. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit — you can earn any amount without affecting your benefits.

It is worth noting that withheld benefits are not lost permanently. Once you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit amount to account for the months that payments were withheld, which typically results in a somewhat higher monthly check going forward.

Additionally, Social Security reviews the earnings records of working beneficiaries each year. If a recent year of earnings is among your highest on record, Social Security will recalculate your benefit and pay any increase you are owed.

Tools and Resources for Making Your Decision

The SSA offers several free online tools to help people think through their options. A personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount allows users to view their earnings history, get benefit estimates based on different retirement ages, and compare how various claiming scenarios affect monthly income. Setting up an account is free and takes only a few minutes.

For those ready to apply, the process can be completed online at ssa.gov/apply. Applications can be submitted up to four months before the date benefits are to begin. Those who prefer not to apply online can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is full retirement age, and how do I know mine? Full retirement age is the age at which you can receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefit. It depends on the year you were born. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, it is 66. Those born between 1955 and 1959 have a retirement age between 66 and 67. The SSA's Retirement Age Calculator at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html can give you the exact answer.

Can I collect Social Security and still keep working? Yes. You can receive Social Security retirement benefits and continue working. However, if you are under full retirement age, there is a limit to how much you can earn. In 2026, that limit is $24,480 for those under full retirement age all year. Earnings above that amount will temporarily reduce your benefit. Once you reach full retirement age, you can earn as much as you want with no impact on your Social Security.

Does waiting to claim benefits help my spouse? It can. If you are married and your spouse could be eligible for a survivor benefit based on your earnings record, waiting to claim increases the amount your spouse would receive if you pass away first. This is an important consideration for married couples doing long-term financial planning.

Is there any benefit to waiting past age 70? No. Delayed retirement credits stop accumulating at age 70. Waiting past your 70th birthday does not result in any further increase to your monthly benefit, so age 70 represents the latest point at which it makes financial sense to delay.

How do I apply for Social Security retirement benefits? The easiest way is online at ssa.gov/apply. You can submit an application up to four months before you want benefits to begin. If you prefer to apply by phone or in person, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.