Your full retirement age depends on the year you were born
The age at which you receive your full Social Security retirement benefit is called your full retirement age (FRA). This is not 65 for most people anymore. The Social Security Administration raised it gradually, and where you fall in that schedule depends entirely on your birth year.
If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1960, it falls somewhere between 66 and 67 — the exact month depends on your birth month within those years. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67.
You can claim Social Security before your full retirement age, as early as 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced. You can also wait past your full retirement age — up to age 70 — and your monthly payment will increase for each year you delay.
Key Takeaways
- Your full retirement age is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year, not 65.
- Claiming at 62 reduces your monthly benefit by roughly 25 to 30 percent, depending on your full retirement age.
- Waiting until 70 increases your monthly benefit by about 24 to 32 percent above your full retirement age amount.
- You can find your exact full retirement age on your Social Security statement or by entering your birth date on the Social Security website.
How the full retirement age schedule works
The Social Security Administration did not change everyone's full retirement age at once. Instead, it moved the age up by two months per birth year, starting with people born in 1943. This created a schedule where your birth year — and sometimes your birth month — determines your exact full retirement age.
The table below shows the full retirement age for each birth year:
| Birth Year | Full Retirement Age |
|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months |
| 1960 or later | 67 |
If you were born in one of the years with a partial age — like 1955 or 1957 — your exact full retirement age depends on your birth month within that year. The Social Security Administration publishes a detailed month-by-month chart on its website if you need your precise date.
What happens if you claim before your full retirement age
You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but you will receive a smaller monthly payment for the rest of your life. The reduction is permanent — it does not increase later when you reach your full retirement age.
The amount of the reduction depends on how many months before your full retirement age you claim. If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you lose roughly 30 percent of your benefit. If your full retirement age is 66 and you claim at 62, the reduction is about 25 percent. Claiming at 63 or 64 results in a smaller cut, but still a permanent one.
There is also an earnings test if you claim before your full retirement age and continue to work. If your earnings exceed a certain amount in a year, Social Security will withhold part of your benefit. Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings test no longer applies, no matter how much you earn.
What happens if you delay past your full retirement age
If you wait to claim Social Security after your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by a percentage for each month you delay. This increase continues until age 70, after which there is no financial benefit to waiting longer.
The increase is roughly 0.67 percent per month, which adds up to about 8 percent per year. If your full retirement age is 67, waiting until 70 means your monthly benefit will be about 24 percent higher than it would be at 67. If your full retirement age is 66, waiting until 70 increases your benefit by about 32 percent.
This delayed retirement credit is one reason some people choose to work longer or use other savings to cover living expenses in their mid-60s — the higher monthly payment can mean more total money over a lifetime, especially if you live into your 80s or 90s.
How to find your exact full retirement age
The easiest way to learn your full retirement age is to check your Social Security statement. You can create a free account at ssa.gov and view your statement online. It will show your full retirement age clearly, along with an estimate of your benefit at different claiming ages.
If you do not have an online account, you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 and ask. A representative can tell you your full retirement age in a few minutes. You can also visit a local Social Security office in person, though wait times vary.
The Social Security website also has an interactive tool where you enter your birth date and it returns your full retirement age when ready. This is useful if you want to check quickly without creating an account or making a phone call.
How your claiming age affects your lifetime benefits
The choice of when to claim affects not just your monthly payment, but the total amount you receive over your lifetime. This depends on how long you live — something no one can predict with certainty.
If you claim at 62, you start receiving money sooner, but each check is smaller. If you claim at 70, each check is much larger, but you have waited eight years to start. The "break-even" point — where the total money received is roughly equal — usually falls somewhere in the early 80s, depending on your full retirement age.
This means there is no single "right" age to claim. The choice depends on your health, your family history of longevity, whether you are still working, and whether you need the money now or can afford to wait. Some people claim early because they need the income. Others delay because they expect to live a long time or want to maximize the benefit for a surviving spouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my mind after I claim Social Security?
You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of starting benefits, but only if you have not yet reached your full retirement age. If you withdraw, you must repay all the benefits you received. After 12 months, or once you reach your full retirement age, you cannot withdraw your claim, though you can suspend benefits and let them grow until age 70.
Does my full retirement age affect my spouse's or children's benefits?
Yes. Your full retirement age determines when your spouse can receive their full benefit based on your record, and it affects how much they receive if they claim early. It also affects the timing and amount of benefits for any children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school) who are on your record.
What if I was born on January 1st?
If you were born on January 1st, Social Security counts you as born on December 31st of the previous year. This affects which birth year category you fall into for full retirement age purposes, so check your statement or call to confirm your exact age.
Is my full retirement age the same as my Medicare may be able to access age?
No. You become may be able to access for Medicare at 65, regardless of your full retirement age for Social Security. You can claim Social Security at 62 even if you are not yet may be able to access for Medicare. The two programs use different age thresholds.