Anyone who's paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years can start to receive retirement benefits as early as age 62 based on his or her own earnings record. A married spouse without an earnings record (or whose record would result in a lower Social Security payment) can collect on his or her spouse's earnings record when his or her spouse turns 62.
Collecting Social Security at 62 has some advantages. For example, you may be ready to retire and counting on Social Security as the cornerstone of your retirement plan. After all, if you've paid Social Security taxes for 10 years, then you're entitled to Social Security benefits.
If you or your spouse has serious health problems or a family history that suggests you may not live long enough to profit from waiting, collecting early might make the most sense for you. Just remember that if the higher earner delays, the surviving spouse's survivors benefits could also increase.
On the other hand, the earlier you start to collect, the less you'll receive each month. But if you start to collect and then change your mind, you have 2 options.
The "reset" rule
Within 12 months of starting to collect, you can "reset" your benefits to erase the reduction, but you must repay all of the benefits you and your family earned.
See how it works: The "reset" rule
The voluntary suspension rule
If you started collecting before your full retirement age (FRA), you can suspend your benefits at FRA and restart them later.
See how it works: Voluntary suspension