When Do Social Security Benefits Start and End?

Jim Probasco has 30+ years of experience writing for online, print, radio, and television media, including PBS. His expertise includes government programs and policy, retirement planning, insurance, family finance, home ownership and loans. He has a bachelor's from Ohio University and Master's from Wright State University in music education.

Anthony Battle is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. He earned the Chartered Financial Consultant® designation for advanced financial planning, the Chartered Life Underwriter® designation for advanced insurance specialization, the Accredited Financial Counselor® for Financial Counseling and both the Retirement Income Certified Professional®, and Certified Retirement Counselor designations for advance retirement planning.

1. Social Security Explained: How It Works and Types of Benefits
2. Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)
3. How the SS Trust Fund Is Invested
4. Social Security Benefits
5. Social Security Credits
6. 3 Ways to Get Benefits
7. Best Social Security Calculators
8. How to Contact the SSA

How Social Security Is Organized

1. This Year's Social Security Changes
2. When to Take Benefits
3. Your "Normal Retirement Age"
4. Calculate Your Breakeven Age
5. When to Apply
6. Are SS Benefits a Form of Socialism?

Benefits and Your Income

1. How Much Will You Get?
2. Your Maximum Retirement Benefit
3. Maximum Disability Benefits
4. How Income Affects Benefits
5. If You Have a Part-Time Job
6. If You're Not Retired

Benefits for Spouses

1. How They're Calculated
2. Spousal Benefits vs. Your Own Benefits
3. The New Social Security Rules for Spouses
4. Are Spousal Benefits Retroactive?
5. How Spousal Benefits Work

Benefits for Dependents, Survivors, After Divoce

1. How Children's Benefits Work
2. Guide to Dependent Benefits
3. How Survivor Benefits Work
4. Benefits for Divorced Spouses

Immigrants, Non-Citizens, Americans Abroad

1. Immigrants 65 and Older
2. How Legal Immigrants Can Qualify
3. Non-Citizens and Social Security
4. Retiring Outside the U.S.

Smart Benefits Strategies

1. Tips to Increase Your Check
2. 9 Ways to Boost Benefits
3. Maximize Household Benefits
4. What Can Shrink Your Benefits
5. When to Take Benefits Early

Social Security is an umbrella term for several federal benefits programs, although most Americans think of Social Security benefits as a monthly payment that begins in retirement. One of the largest government programs in the world, Social Security is expected to pay more than $1 trillion to about 68 million Americans in 2024 to retirees and their survivors and those with disabilities and their families.

Key Takeaways

• Social Security retirement benefits can start at age 62 at a reduced payment.
• Social Security spousal benefits pay a portion of what a spouse receives.
• Social Security survivor benefits are paid to qualifying family members of deceased workers.
• Social Security disability benefits support workers and their families.

Retirement Benefits

This is the most familiar Social Security plan, with roots that go back to 1935 and the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Benefits are paid out of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund.

• Retired Workers: Lifetime benefits for those who contributed to Social Security during their working years. Retirees can claim benefits as early as age 62, but the benefits are reduced by up to 30%. Payments increase for those who wait until full retirement age or age 66 for those born 1943–1954. For those born in 1960 and later, the payout increases annually by two months from 1955 to 1959 until it reaches 67.
• Spousal Benefits: A spouse of a retired worker without a sufficient work history or whose work history entitles them to a lower benefit can receive up to half of their spouse’s benefits and does not reduce the insured's benefits. The spousal benefit continues until one spouse dies. The survivor may be eligible for survivor benefits. To qualify, spouses must be 62 years old or caring for a spouse's child who receives benefits, or a divorced spouse after 10 years of marriage and remains unmarried.
• Child Benefits: A child or adult child with a disability may be eligible for Social Security benefits if the parent receives retirement or disability benefits. The child must be under 18, a high school student up to 19, or an unmarried adult who became disabled before age 22. Family income limits may also apply. Dependent child benefits begin when a retired worker's benefits start and end when the child reaches the maximum age. Those with disabilities qualify for continuing benefits.

To qualify for benefits, individuals must meet the definition of "insured" as defined on the Social Security Administration (SSA) website.

Survivor Benefits

• For Spouses: Surviving spouses can receive lifetime benefits based on the benefit amount the deceased received at the time of death. A surviving spouse can get reduced benefits as early as 60 or full payments at full retirement age. A surviving spouse with a disability can collect as early as age 50. After the age of 65, they qualify for their age benefit. Surviving spouses qualify if they care for their spouse’s child who is under age 16 or disabled. Divorced spouses aged 60 or older qualify for benefits if married for at least 10 years or caring for children.
• For Children: A child of a deceased beneficiary may qualify for continuing benefits for life if the person is disabled, or until they reach age 18, or 19 if attending high school.
• For Parents: A surviving parent dependent on a Social Security recipient who has died may be eligible for benefits at age 62 or older. This benefit is for life.

4,000,000

The number of widows and widowers receiving monthly Social Security benefits based on their deceased spouse’s earnings record

Disability Benefits

These benefits are paid from the Disability Insurance Trust Fund and support those who suffer an injury or illness that leaves them unable to work.

• Spousal Benefits: The spouse of a disabled worker may qualify for benefits if they are at least 62 years old or a divorced spouse who was married for 10 years, or any age if caring for a child who is disabled or under age 16. Spousal benefits begin when the disabled worker’s benefits start. It ends at the death of the disabled worker or the spouse, or when the SSA determines that the person no longer qualifies.
• Child Benefits: The child of a parent with a disability can qualify for benefits if they meet the conditions for coverage as a retired worker’s child. The child must be unmarried and younger than 18, or 19 if still in high school, or have a disability that began before age 22.

Can Divorced Spouses Qualify for Survivor Benefits if Caring for Children?

Divorced spouses aged 60 or older can get survivor benefits if married for at least 10 years. Divorced spouses don’t have to meet the length-of-marriage rule if they take care of the former spouse’s child who is younger than age 16 or disabled.

How Do Individuals Qualify for Disability Benefits?

The SSA has strict criteria, including “severe disability”—a disability that has lasted or is expected to last at least one year or result in death, with the person deemed unable to perform any work. The benefit begins six full months after the onset of the disability. This benefit is for life unless the SSA determines an individual no longer qualifies.

How Is Social Security Funded?

Social Security is funded through a dedicated payroll tax or FICA. Both employers and employees pay 6.2% of wages up to $168,600 in 2024. Self-employed individuals pay 12.4%. In 2023, the OASI and DI Trust Funds collected $1.351 trillion.

The Bottom Line

Social Security benefits support those who are disabled, retired, or the survivors of those who qualify for payments. Benefits can begin for retirees at age 62 at a reduced monthly payout. For those who suffer an illness or disability, benefits can start at any age to help support the individual and their families.

1. Social Security Administration. “Fact Sheet: Social Security.” Page 1.
2. Social Security Administration. “Social Security History.”
3. Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "The Combined Social Security Trust Funds."
4. Social Security Administration. “Old-Age & Survivors Insurance Trust Fund.”
5. Social Security Administration. "Social Security Credits."
6. Social Security Administration. "Early or Late Retirement?"
7. Social Security Administration. "Starting Your Retirement Benefits Early."
8. Social Security Administration. "Benefits for Spouses."
9. Social Security Administration. “Benefits for Your Divorced Spouse.”
10. Social Security Administration. "Benefits for Children." Page 1.
11. Social Security Administration. "Benefits for Children."
12. Social Security Administration. “Insured Status Requirements.”
13. Social Security Administration. “If You Are the Survivor.”
14. Social Security Administration. “Planning for Your Survivors.”
15. Social Security Administration. “Disability Insurance Trust Fund.”
16. Social Security Administration. "Disability Benefits | Your Continuing Eligibility."
17. Social Security Administration. "Is There a Waiting Period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits?"
18. Social Security Administration. “The Faces and Facts of Disability: Facts.”
19. Social Security Administration. "How Is Social Security Financed?"

1. Social Security Explained: How It Works and Types of Benefits
2. Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)
3. How the SS Trust Fund Is Invested
4. Social Security Benefits
5. Social Security Credits
6. 3 Ways to Get Benefits
7. Best Social Security Calculators
8. How to Contact the SSA

How Social Security Is Organized

1. This Year's Social Security Changes
2. When to Take Benefits
3. Your "Normal Retirement Age"
4. Calculate Your Breakeven Age
5. When to Apply
6. Are SS Benefits a Form of Socialism?

Benefits and Your Income

1. How Much Will You Get?
2. Your Maximum Retirement Benefit
3. Maximum Disability Benefits
4. How Income Affects Benefits
5. If You Have a Part-Time Job
6. If You're Not Retired

Benefits for Spouses

1. How They're Calculated
2. Spousal Benefits vs. Your Own Benefits
3. The New Social Security Rules for Spouses
4. Are Spousal Benefits Retroactive?
5. How Spousal Benefits Work

Benefits for Dependents, Survivors, After Divoce

1. How Children's Benefits Work
2. Guide to Dependent Benefits
3. How Survivor Benefits Work
4. Benefits for Divorced Spouses

Immigrants, Non-Citizens, Americans Abroad

1. Immigrants 65 and Older
2. How Legal Immigrants Can Qualify
3. Non-Citizens and Social Security
4. Retiring Outside the U.S.

Smart Benefits Strategies

1. Tips to Increase Your Check
2. 9 Ways to Boost Benefits
3. Maximize Household Benefits
4. What Can Shrink Your Benefits
5. When to Take Benefits Early

The Social Security tax, levied on both employers and employees, funds Social Security and is collected in the form of a payroll tax or a self-employment tax.

A Social Security number (SSN) is a numerical identifier assigned to U.S. citizens and some residents to track their income and determine benefits.

Substantial gainful activity (SGA) marks the salary threshold used by the Social Security Administration to determine eligibility for disability benefits.

Social Security provides benefits to retirees, survivors, and disabled workers. How much you receive depends on your age and income.

Full retirement age is the age at which you can receive full Social Security retirement benefits. Your FRA varies depending on the year in which you were born.

File and suspend was a Social Security claiming strategy that allowed couples of retirement age to receive spousal benefits while delaying retirement credits.

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