How much is the average Social Security check at age 62 in 2025?

As more Americans weigh early retirement, a growing number are eyeing Social Security benefits at age 62, the earliest point of eligibility. For those planning to claim their benefits in 2025, it's important to know what kind of check to expect.

The figure can vary greatly depending on earnings history, years worked, and when you choose to start collecting. However, the latest data offers a clear look at what an average payment looks like for 62-year-olds this year.

For retirees choosing to begin Social Security at age 62 in 2025, the average monthly benefit is now estimated at approximately $1,376.

This figure reflects the most recent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applied to the December 2024 average benefit of $1,342, following the Social Security istration's 2.5 percent increase.

This annual COLA, designed to counter inflation, nudges payments up modestly and is calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (I-W). In 2025, the 2.5 percent rise provides roughly $34 more per month for early retirees.

Claiming early lowers your benefit

While collecting benefits at 62 offers quick access to income, it comes at a cost. Those who begin collecting at this age will receive a permanently reduced amount compared to those who wait until full retirement age, either 66 or 67 depending on birth year. For individuals born in 1960 or later, claiming at 62 means receiving only about 70.8 percent of the full benefit they would otherwise get.

Still, for many Americans, the need for immediate income outweighs the advantages of waiting. Others simply want to enjoy their retirement while still relatively young and active. But these choices come with trade-offs.

According to the Social Security istration, the maximum possible benefit for a 62-year-old retiree in 2025 is $2,831 per month. However, this amount applies only to high-income earners who paid into the system at or above the taxable maximum for 35 years, the threshold most workers don't meet.

For average earners, $1,376 per month translates to around $16,512 annually, hardly enough to live on comfortably without other sources of income. Experts typically advise retirees to aim for at least 70-80 percent of their pre-retirement income from a combination of Social Security and personal savings, such as IRAs or 401(k)s.

Many retirees do not receive the average amount. Depending on work history, earnings, and time spent in the labor force, some recipients at 62 may get less than $1,000 a month. Others with higher wages and longer tenures could collect $1,500 or more.