maximum monthly income but them you have to use other income while you wait. I retired at 62 but started SS at 65. My "full payout" age was 66. Given my circumstances it worked out fine, but I sometimes think I should have waited longer. I could have taken out some of my retirement savings early to hold off on SS, and perhaps I should have. Waiting seems better if you expect to live long while starting sooner seems better if you don't.