Here's the Average Social Security Benefit at 62 vs. 70
Claiming at 62 gives you an eight-year head start, but the monthly gap with age 70 is steeper than most realize.
Overview
Waiting until age 70 to receive Social Security results in a monthly check that's $850.28 higher than the average for those who are age 62. As of December 2025, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the average 70-year-old receives $2,274.68 per month. That amounts to about $27,296.16 per year in retirement income.
A 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) took effect in 2026. This adjustment adds about $40 a month on top of the age-62 average and about $64 on top of the age-70 average. These benefit figures assume a full retirement age (FRA) of 67, which is the baseline for everyone born in 1960 or later.
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Originally published at www.fool.com.