Maximize Your
Lifetime Benefits.

The optimal claiming age depends on your health, financial situation, and spousal benefits. You can claim as early as 62 (with reduced benefits), at full retirement age (100% benefits), or delay until 70 (with delayed retirement credits up to 132% of your benefit).

The break-even age is when total benefits from delaying equal total benefits from claiming early. This typically occurs in your early 80s, but varies based on your specific benefit amount and claiming strategy.

Up to 85% of Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on your combined income. Strategic income planning can help minimize Social Security taxes and keep more of your benefits.

A spouse can receive up to 50% of the higher-earning spouse's full retirement benefit, or their own benefit if higher. Strategic claiming coordination between spouses can maximize total household Social Security income.

Yes, but if you're under full retirement age, earnings above certain thresholds will reduce your benefits temporarily. After full retirement age, you can earn any amount without penalty.

A surviving spouse can receive 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit (if higher than their own). Proper claiming strategies can maximize the survivor benefit for the remaining spouse.

It depends on your health, other income sources, and financial needs. Delaying benefits past age 62 increases your benefit by 6-8% per year. Claiming at age 70 gives you a benefit that is 76% higher than claiming at 62. For most healthy retirees with other income sources, delaying is often the better strategy.

FERS employees receive both a federal pension and Social Security benefits. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) — which previously reduced benefits for some government workers — were eliminated in January 2025, meaning federal retirees now receive their full Social Security benefit.

Yes. A spouse can receive up to 50% of your full retirement age (FRA) benefit, even if they have little or no work history of their own. If your spouse has their own benefit, they receive the higher of the two. A surviving spouse keeps the higher of either benefit after one spouse passes away.