what age can you draw social security

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits when you reach your full retirement age. The full retirement age varies based on the year you were born. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase. If you start receiving benefits early, your benefits are reduced a small percent for each month before your full retirement age. The reduction is usually permanent. The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954, and it gradually increases until it reaches 67 for people born in 1960 and later. If you start receiving benefits at age 62, your benefit would be about 30% lower than it would be at your full retirement age of 67.