Age may be just a number, but that number matters when it comes to retiring. The common definition of early retirement is any age before 65 — that's when you may qualify for Medicare benefits. Currently, men retire at an average age of 64, while for women the average retirement age is 62.
The earliest you can get your State Pension is when you reach your State Pension age. You'll have to wait to claim your State Pension if you retire before you reach that age.
Age 62 is referred to as your “normal retirement age .” receive one of five retirement formulas . Most state members hired after January 1, 2013, receive the 2% at 62 formula . State safety members receive one of ten retirement formulas, with varying retirement ages and final compensation percentages .
A worker can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a reduction of as much as 30 percent. Starting to receive benefits after normal retirement age may result in larger benefits. With delayed retirement credits, a person can receive his or her largest benefit by retiring at age 70.
The early retirement age in the UK is typically considered to be 55, as this is the minimum age at which most workplace and private pensions can be accessed. However, this is set to rise to 57 from 2028. It's important to note that the State Pension age is higher, currently at 66, and increasing to 67 by 2028.
The 4% rule comes with a major caveat: It's not really a “rule” since everyone's situation is different. If you have a large retirement investment portfolio, you might not need to spend 4% of it every year. If you have limited savings, 4% might not come close to covering your needs.