Social Security 101: When Should You Claim?

Medicare and Social Security arrive around the same time in life, so they get tangled together in people's minds. They're actually two separate programs — but the timing of one really can affect the other. Here's the plain-English version of how Social Security works in 2026, the big claiming decision, and how it connects to your Medicare.

One note up front: I'm a Medicare agent, not the Social Security Administration. For your personal Social Security strategy, the SSA (ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213) and a financial advisor are the authorities. My job is to make sure you understand the basics — and that the Medicare side is handled right.

How Social Security works, in one minute

Your retirement benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If you worked fewer than 35 years, the missing years count as zeros and pull the average down. To qualify at all, you need 40 credits — about 10 years of work. In 2026 you earn one credit for every $1,890 in covered earnings, up to four per year, so $7,560 in earnings gets you the maximum four credits for the year.

Your Full Retirement Age (FRA)

Your "full retirement age" is when you qualify for 100% of your benefit. After a decades-long phase-in, it's now settled: FRA is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. You don't have to claim then — that's just the anchor point the other ages are measured against.

The big choice: claim at 62, 67, or 70?

You can start anytime between 62 and 70, and when you start changes your monthly check for the rest of your life:

• Age 62 (earliest): you can start, but your benefit is permanently reduced — by as much as about 30% compared to your full retirement age amount.
• Full retirement age (67): you get 100% of your benefit.
• Waiting past FRA (up to 70): you earn delayed retirement credits of about 8% per year — roughly 24% more than your FRA amount if you wait all the way to 70. There's no benefit to waiting past 70.

Earlier means smaller checks for more years; later means bigger checks for fewer years. The "right" age depends on your health, your savings, whether you're still working, and your spouse — which is why there's no single answer.

Working while collecting

If you claim early and keep working, an earnings limit can temporarily reduce your benefit:

• Under FRA all year: Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above $24,480 (2026).
• The year you reach FRA: it's $1 for every $3 above $65,160, counted only up to your birthday month.
• At full retirement age and beyond: no limit at all — earn whatever you like.

And here's the part people miss: money withheld this way isn't lost. Once you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates and gives it back through a higher monthly benefit.

A quick word on spouses

A husband or wife can often claim a spousal benefit of up to 50% of the higher earner's full retirement amount, and a surviving spouse may receive up to 100% of what the late spouse was getting. The rules get detailed — this is exactly the kind of thing to confirm with SSA before you file.

How Social Security and Medicare connect

This is where it matters for our work together:

• They're separate — sign up for Medicare around 65 even if you delay Social Security. Lots of people wait on Social Security to get bigger checks, which is fine — but don't let that make you miss your Medicare enrollment window.
• If you're already getting Social Security before 65, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.
• Your Part B premium ($202.90 in 2026) is usually deducted right from your Social Security check once both are active.

If you're approaching 65, make sure your Medicare timing is squared away — start with The 7-Month Window, and if you're still working, Still Working at 65?

So when should you claim?

Honestly? It depends. If you're in good health with other income and can wait, delaying can mean a meaningfully larger lifetime benefit. If you need the income, or have health concerns, claiming earlier can be the right call. Use the free tools and your earnings record at ssa.gov, and consider a financial advisor for the math. Whatever you decide on Social Security, I'll make sure the Medicare piece lines up with it.

Common questions

This article is general educational information, not Social Security or financial advice, and figures can change. 2026 Social Security amounts are from the Social Security Administration; for guidance on your own benefits, contact the SSA at ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213. Tyler Insurance Group is not connected with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration, the U.S. government, or the federal Medicare program.