What Is the Average Social Security Check at Age 66?

Most people can start receiving Social Security at age 66, but it may pay to wait just a little longer.

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Updated Oct 24, 2025 · 2 min read

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The average Social Security check at age 66 is $1,808.73 . However, for many people, full retirement age — the age at which they’re entitled to 100% of their Social Security benefits — is 67 . The average benefit at age 70 was $2,187.50 .

The Social Security Administration reduces benefits for people who retire before reaching full retirement age, so retiring at 66 could come at a cost.

» MORE: How to find a financial advisor to help plan retirement

Your actual benefit may be lower or higher than estimate made with this calculator, because it does not take into account your actual earnings history.

We assume you have earnings every year until you begin receiving Social Security benefits. If you had several years of noncovered employment or your earnings changed significantly from year to year, this calculator will overestimate or underestimate your benefit.

Date of birth

Desired age to begin Social Security

Based on your date of birth, your full retirement age is 67 years.

Annual income this year

Expected annual salary increase (percentage)

Estimated Social Security retirement benefits

Benefit at expected age

$1,435/monthly

$17,220/annually

This is your estimated benefit
if you begin taking Social Security at age 62

Benefit at full retirement age

$2,473/monthly

$29,676/annually

This is your estimated benefit
if you begin taking Social Security at age 67

Estimated benefits from age 62 to 70

You selected

Full retirement age

Max benefit

Social Security break-even age

Your break-even point is the age at which the cumulative amount you may receive if you file later equals the cumulative amount you may receive if you file early. It signifies the point at which it may "pay off" to wait.

Age 77.5 is the age at which the total number of dollars you receive if you retire at age 70 exceeds the total number of dollars you'll receive if you retire at 67.

cumulative benefits if you file at age 67cumulative benefits if you file at age 70

About these results

We estimated and then indexed your past earnings by using your current annual salary, the national average wage indexing series and the Social Security Administration's annual wage base.

We assume that people age 18 to 22 are less likely to have full-time earnings.

Future earnings are based on correct annual salary and expected annual salary increase.

With the exception of the indexing factor applied to past earnings, the calculations do not include an inflation rate. The results are presented in today's dollars.

What’s full retirement age and how does it affect my benefits at age 66?

Although it’s possible to file for monthly retirement benefits as early as age 62, doing so usually results in a permanently reduced monthly benefit.

If your full retirement age is 67 and you begin receiving monthly retirement benefits at age 62, your monthly benefit could be 30% lower than what you could get every month if you waited until age 67 to start receiving benefits

SSA.gov. Benefit Reduction for Early Retirement. Accessed Oct 24, 2025.
View all sources

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That means that if you are eligible for $1,000 per month at full retirement age, the Social Security Administration could reduce that to $700 per month for life if you begin taking benefits early at age 62.

Another consequence of taking Social Security early is that the Social Security Administration docks benefits for people who continue working while receiving Social Security if their job earnings exceed an annual limit and if they are under full retirement age for the entire year. The limit is $23,400 in 2025 and $24,480 in 2026. Once a person reaches full retirement age, though, there is no cap on how much money they can earn from work.

» MORE: Calculate how long your retirement savings might last

Full retirement age for Social Security

Year you were born	Full retirement age	If you start receiving benefits at 62, your retirement benefit is reduced by...
1943 through 1954	66.	25%.
1955	66 and 2 months.	25.83%.
1956	66 and 4 months.	26.67%.
1957	66 and 6 months.	27.5%.
1958	66 and 8 months.	28.33%.
1959	66 and 10 months.	29.17%.
1960 and later	67.	30%.

» MORE: Tips for how to choose a good financial advisor

Two factors have a big influence on the size of your Social Security retirement benefit:

Whether you begin receiving benefits before, at or after reaching full retirement age.
How much you earned over time from work.

To calculate your retirement benefits, the Social Security Administration uses a formula that's based on your highest 35 years of employment earnings. It adjusts these earnings for inflation as part of the process of calculating your benefit.

Only earnings on which you paid Social Security taxes count in the calculation of your monthly retirement benefit. Earnings in excess of the Social Security wage base do not count toward your monthly retirement benefit . In 2025, the first $176,100 of earnings is subject to Social Security tax. In 2026, the first $184,500 of earnings is subject to Social Security tax.

To be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, you also must earn at least 40 “work credits,” which are based on your earnings. You can earn up to four work credits per year, meaning it usually takes at least 10 years of work history to become eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits . In most cases, you also have to be at least 62 when you begin receiving retirement benefits.

» MORE: Find out if you have to pay taxes on your Social Security benefits

You can apply for retirement benefits up to four months before you want to start receiving them. The easiest way to apply is by using the Social Security Administration’s online application, which requires you to create or sign in to your my Social Security account. You can also apply by scheduling an appointment at your local Social Security office.

» MORE: Best places to get free or cheap financial advice

Some of the documents you might need include:

Birth certificate.
Social Security number.
Your W-2 forms or self-employment tax return information from last year.
Military discharge papers.
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status if you weren’t born in the United States.
The name of your financial institution, the routing number and the account number for direct deposit.

» MORE: This quiz can help you see if it's time to get a financial advisor

Frequently Asked Questions

What does PIA stand for, and what is it?

PIA stands for primary insurance amount, and it is the amount of your monthly Social Security retirement benefit if you wait until your full retirement age to apply. Your PIA is based on your work history.

If I decide it was a mistake to start taking benefits early, can I withdraw my retirement claim and reapply later to increase my monthly benefit amount?

If you change your mind about receiving monthly retirement benefits after you’ve applied, you can withdraw your claim if it’s been less than 12 months since you applied, and if you meet all of the requirements for withdrawing, which includes repaying any Social Security retirement payments you received and submitting a written request to withdraw.

What happens if I wait until after my full retirement age to file for Social Security retirement benefits?

You can get a bigger monthly check. The Social Security Administration awards delayed retirement credits for every month you wait to take your benefit. These increase your monthly retirement benefit by 8% for every 12 months you wait. This benefit increase stops when you turn 70, so there is no incentive to wait after that.

Article sources

NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.

1. Social Security Administration. Table 5.A1.1 Retired-worker beneficiaries: Number and average monthly benefit, by age and sex, December 2024. Accessed Oct 24, 2025.
2. SSA.gov. Benefit Reduction for Early Retirement. Accessed Oct 24, 2025.
3. SSA.gov. Contribution And Benefit Base. Accessed Oct 24, 2025.
4. SSA.gov. How You Become Eligible For Benefits. Accessed Oct 24, 2025.

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