# How One Small Move Before 65 Can Unlock a Bigger Social Security Benefit
Social Security benefits grow larger the longer you wait to claim them. Filing at your full retirement age versus age 62 increases your monthly payment by roughly 35 percent. Waiting until age 70 adds an additional 24 percent boost on top of that, for a total increase of about 76 percent compared to claiming at 62.
One strategic move before turning 65 involves reviewing your earnings record with the Social Security Administration. Errors in your work history directly reduce your benefit calculation, which bases payments on your highest 35 years of earnings. Correcting mistakes now prevents permanently reduced benefits later.
You can request a free earnings statement at ssa.gov or through your My Social Security account online. Check that all reported wages match your tax returns. The Social Security Administration requires corrections to be filed within three years, three months, and 15 days of the year the wages were earned. Missing this deadline locks in the error forever.
Another pre-65 strategy involves understanding how spousal and survivor benefits work. A spouse can claim up to 50 percent of the primary earner's benefit at full retirement age, though this rule has limitations for people born after 1954. Survivors of deceased workers receive benefits based on the worker's benefit amount. Optimizing your claiming strategy before 65 lets you plan around these rules.
Finally, consider your health and family longevity patterns. The break-even point for waiting until 70 versus claiming at 62 occurs around age 80 to 82. People with serious health issues may come out ahead by claiming earlier. Those with family histories of longevity benefit from delay.
Meeting with a financial advisor or using the Social Security Administration's benefit estimator tool helps clarify your situation. Your specific earnings history, health outlook, and financial