Key Points
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You won’t face an early claiming benefit reduction if you apply for Social Security at 67.
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Working beneficiaries won’t lose money to the earnings test at age 67.
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Claiming later results in a larger lifetime benefit for many people.
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Claiming Social Security at age 67 — full retirement age (FRA) for most workers today — is a great middle-ground option for those who are worried about the cost of signing up early and the risks of delaying their application. It’s definitely worth considering if you’re on the fence about when you’d like to apply for benefits.
Here are the three biggest reasons to consider signing up at age 67 to help you decide if it’s the right move.
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1. No early claiming benefit reduction
When you apply for Social Security before your FRA, the size of your benefits can shrink by up to 30%. This is enough to drop a $2,000 monthly benefit to $1,400 per month, and this reduction is generally permanent.
When you wait until age 67 to apply for Social Security, you don’t have to worry about this benefit reduction. You get the full benefit you’re entitled to based on your work history.
2. No losses to the earnings test
The Social Security earnings test withholds money from your checks if you earn more than a certain amount from your job while you’re under your FRA. In 2026, you lose $1 for every $2 you earn over $24,480 if you’ll be under your FRA all year. If you’ll reach your FRA this year, you lose $1 for every $3 you earn over $65,160, assuming you earn this much before your birth month.
Fortunately, this money isn’t lost forever. You get a one-time benefit increase at your FRA if you’ve had money withheld due to the earnings test. But you can skip all of this by waiting until 67 to sign up. The earnings test doesn’t apply after your FRA, regardless of how much you make at your job.
3. Possible reduced retirement savings goal
Delaying Social Security often results in a larger lifetime benefit if you have an average or above-average life expectancy. Waiting until 67 to sign up could result in more money from the program, which may reduce the amount you have to save on your own to cover your remaining retirement costs.
Of course, this means you’ll have to continue working or cover your retirement costs entirely on your own until you’re ready to apply for Social Security. This may not be possible for you. If it’s not, you may have to sign up earlier, even if it means settling for a smaller lifetime benefit.
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