By how much does your benefit increase for each year you delay taking Social Security past retirement age?

Delaying Social Security benefits beyond your full retirement age results in an increase in your monthly benefit amount, specifically by 8% for each year you wait to claim your benefits. This increase applies until you reach the age of 70. The rationale behind this increase is to incentivize individuals to delay taking their benefits, which can be financially advantageous for them in the long run, especially if they expect to live longer than average.

By waiting, beneficiaries can enjoy higher monthly payments, which ultimately contributes to greater total lifetime benefits if the individual lives into later years. This increase is designed to help those who might not claim benefits at the earliest possible age and is particularly beneficial for people in good health or who have longer life expectancies.

The other choices—6%, 10%, and 12%—do not reflect the actual percentage increase provided by Social Security for delaying benefits. The 8% increase is the established policy by the Social Security Administration for this specific scenario, making it the correct choice.