# The Social Security 'Pause Button' Retirees Can Use After Full Retirement Age
Retirees who reach full retirement age now have a powerful tool to increase lifetime benefits. By voluntarily pausing Social Security claims after hitting full retirement age, workers can boost their monthly payments by 8% annually, plus inflation adjustments.
Here's how it works. Full retirement age varies by birth year, ranging from 66 to 67 for most current retirees. Once you reach that milestone, you can claim benefits immediately or delay. Each year you wait before age 70 adds 8% to your monthly payment. Inflation increases apply on top of that growth.
This strategy works differently than the well-known delayed retirement credits available before full retirement age. The difference matters because the "pause button" option applies specifically to those who have already reached full retirement age and claimed benefits early.
The math favors patience. A retiree claiming at full retirement age who pauses benefits gains significant growth by 70. Someone born in 1957 with a full retirement age of 66 could see their $2,000 monthly benefit grow to roughly $2,640 by delaying three additional years. That translates to nearly $10,000 extra per year in today's dollars for the rest of retirement.
This strategy suits several groups. Retirees with substantial savings, part-time income, or spousal support can afford to delay. Those with family longevity history benefit from higher lifetime payouts. Conversely, people with serious health issues or immediate cash needs should claim immediately.
One catch exists. The pause button resets accumulated benefits. If you claimed at 62 and then pause at full retirement age, you lose the years already collected. This makes early claims less flexible than many assume.
Planning matters here. Married couples especially benefit from coordinating claims