Claiming Social Security at 68 in 2026
Filing at 68 earns a +8% delayed retirement credit over FRA. A $60,000/yr career earner gets about $2,532/mo instead of $2,345.
Your Details
Full retirement age: 67 years
Find it on your Social Security statement: "Primary Insurance Amount".
Triggers the earnings test check
Your Monthly Check at Age 68
$30,384/year · +8% vs claiming at FRA
PIA at FRA
$2,345/mo
Break-even vs FRA
age 80y 6m
Earnings test warning:
How We Got Your PIA
Estimated AIME (average indexed monthly earnings): $5,000 — capped at $184,500 taxable, padded to 35 years.
Your Check at Every Claiming Age
| Age | Monthly | Annual | vs FRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | $1,641 | $19,692 | -30% |
| 63 | $1,758 | $21,096 | -25% |
| 64 | $1,876 | $22,512 | -20% |
| 65 | $2,032 | $24,384 | -13.3% |
| 66 | $2,188 | $26,256 | -6.7% |
| 67 | $2,345 | $28,140 | 0% |
| 68 | $2,532 | $30,384 | +8% |
| 69 | $2,720 | $32,640 | +16% |
| 70 | $2,907 | $34,884 | +24% |
Notes: 2026 figures. Up to 85% of benefits can be federally taxed (thresholds $25k/$32k provisional income — never indexed). Medicare Part B ($202.90/mo standard) is usually deducted from your check. Estimates, not tax advice.
What Age 68 Pays in 2026 (Examples)
Career-average earnings, 35-year record, FRA 67 cohort. Adjust everything in the calculator above.
| Career Avg Salary | PIA at FRA | Monthly at 68 | Annual at 68 | vs FRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000/yr | $1,812 | $1,956 | $23,472 | +8% |
| $60,000/yr | $2,345 | $2,532 | $30,384 | +8% |
| $100,000/yr | $3,313 | $3,578 | $42,936 | +8% |
Break-even vs claiming at 68: about age 80y 6m · vs waiting to 70: age 83y 6m · vs claiming at 62: age 79y 1m.
Should You Claim at 68? Pros & Cons
Why 68 works
The delayed retirement credit has added 8% over your FRA-67 PIA. No earnings test, and the higher base raises your inflation-adjusted floor for life.
The trade-off
Two years without checks is a real cash-flow cost if you could have claimed at 66–67; break-even vs FRA is around age 80.
Claiming Social Security: Which Age Is Right?
Every age from 62 to 70 has its own page with 2026 numbers, break-even math, and pros & cons.