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A. You can. Social Security will accept your application for early benefits when you're 61 years 9 months. Regardless of how old you are, the agency generally recommends that you apply three months before you would like the first payment to arrive.
You can sign up for Social Security as early as age 62, but your benefit will be cut by 25% to 30% compared with what you'd receive at full retirement age. For people born after 1954, full retirement age gradually rises; for those born in 1960 and later, it's age 67.