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Social Security is one of the most important benefits for seniors available today. And for people without retirement savings, those benefits are especially crucial. The problem is that many people claim Social Security at a sub-optimal time because they don't know the program's rules well enough.
Only 21% of U.S. adults are able to correctly identify their full retirement age for Social Security purposes, according to the Nationwide Retirement Institute. And when surveyed, just 8% correctly identified all of the factors that determine whether retirees are eligible for their maximum monthly benefit.
A new bill is seeking to change the way Social Security claiming options are worded to eliminate confusion and help retirees file for benefits with more confidence.
Confusion can lead to poor filing decisions
The fact that many people can't identify their full retirement age for Social Security is a problem, since that plays a big role in people's claiming decisions. Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.
However, seniors can sign up for benefits at any age once they turn 62. Filing before full retirement age, however, results in reduced monthly checks for life.
Seniors can also delay Social Security benefits past full retirement age. Each year of waiting results in an 8% boost, until the age of 70. But clearly, as the data above shows, not everyone is aware of this.
Early Social Security claims are common
As of 2023, 26% of women and 27% of men claimed Social Security at 62, according to Boston College's Center for Retirement Research. And most retirees claimed benefits before full retirement age.
The problem is that many seniors cannot afford a permanent reduction in their Social Security checks. But because the language used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) itself is often unclear in the context of claiming benefits, it can lead to poor filing decisions.
Granted, not knowing how Social Security works is a big part of the problem. But clearer language in Social Security statements and documentation could also help avoid a lot of confusion and botched claiming choices.
New bill seeks to change the language
In September 2025, Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and Don Beyer (D-VA) introduced the Claiming Age Clarity Act. The bipartisan bill has passed the House and is now awaiting a Senate vote. Both AARP and AMAC have endorsed the bill.
The purpose of the bill is to simply have the SSA use different, less confusing language when reviewing Social Security filing ages.
Specifically, if the bill passes:
- "Early Eligibility Age," which is age 62, would become "Minimum Benefit Age"
- "Full Retirement Age" would become "Standard Benefit Age"
- "Delayed Retirement Age," which is 70, would become "Maximum Benefit Age"
Proponents of the bill say that the current language does not highlight the financial consequences of different Social Security filing ages. Changing the wording could help retirees make more informed decisions.
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The actual rules aren't changing
Some lawmakers have suggested making changes to Social Security's full retirement age to help prevent potential benefit cuts. The Claiming Age Clarity Act is quite different.
The bill is not looking to change the rules of claiming Social Security. Age 62 will still be the earliest age to file for benefits, age 67 will remain full retirement age for workers born in 1960 or later, and age 70 will still be when delayed retirement credits stop accumulating.
The only changes that will come if the bill passes are wording changes. But altering the language could have a big impact on future claimants' choices.
For example, one common point of confusion is that full retirement age is when seniors can collect their maximum benefit possible. That doesn't happen until age 70. But the word "full" is often taken to mean "maximum." So replacing "full" with "standard" makes a lot of sense.
Bottom line
Claiming Social Security at the wrong time is one of the biggest financial mistakes you might make in the course of your retirement planning. If you need those benefits to cover your essential costs, you can't afford to slash them by filing at the wrong time.
Although the rules of claiming benefits are not changing, the way your options are worded might shift. But if you're signing up for benefits very soon, make sure you know what your choices look like, and that you understand the implications of filing at different times.
If you've already claimed Social Security and are not happy with your monthly checks, you may also have the option to undo your filing. You can withdraw your application for benefits, repay the money you received, and file again at a later date if you take action within a year. But unfortunately, just as many people don't fully understand when they're eligible for their Social Security benefits in full, they also aren't aware that they may be able to get a second chance.
