Your Full Retirement Age Depends on When You Were Born
Social Security retirement age is not a single number — it is the age at which you become may have access to to your full monthly benefit amount. The age varies by birth year. If you were born in 1943 or later, your full retirement age is somewhere between 66 and 67. If you were born in 1960 or later, it is 67. The Social Security Administration calls this your full retirement age or normal retirement age.
You can start collecting benefits before you reach full retirement age, as early as 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced. You can also wait past full retirement age — up to age 70 — and your monthly payment will be permanently increased. The choice between these options affects how much you receive for the rest of your life.
Your full retirement age is different from the age you can first claim benefits. Many people confuse the two. You can claim as early as 62 no matter when you were born, but the amount you receive depends on how old you are when you claim and when your full retirement age falls.
Key Takeaways
- Full retirement age ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year, and this is when you receive your complete benefit amount.
- You can claim benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be reduced by roughly 25 to 30 percent for the rest of your life.
- If you delay claiming until age 70, your monthly payment increases by roughly 24 to 32 percent above your full retirement age amount.
- The Social Security Administration sends you a statement showing your estimated benefit at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70.
How Your Birth Year Determines Full Retirement Age
Congress set a schedule that gradually raised full retirement age starting in 2000. The table below shows the exact 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 and later | 67 |
If you were born on January 1 of any year, you are considered born in the previous year for Social Security purposes. For example, if you were born on January 1, 1955, Social Security treats you as born in 1954, making your full retirement age 66.
Your full retirement age is printed on your Social Security statement, which you can view online at ssa.gov by creating a my Social Security account. You do not need to remember the table — the statement shows your exact age.
What Happens If You Claim Before Full Retirement Age
You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but claiming before your full retirement age means a permanent reduction in your monthly benefit. The reduction is roughly 25 to 30 percent depending on how many years early you claim. If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you lose about 30 percent of your benefit for life.
The reduction applies to your own benefit only. If you are married and your spouse is also collecting, your spouse's benefit is calculated separately and is not affected by when you claim. However, if your spouse is receiving a benefit based on your work record, that benefit may be reduced if you claim early.
Claiming early makes sense for some people — those with serious health problems, those who need the money now, or those who do not expect to live into their 80s. It does not make sense for those in good health who can afford to wait, because waiting always results in a higher lifetime total if you live past your mid-70s.
What Happens If You Delay Past Full Retirement Age
For each year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by roughly 8 percent per year. This increase continues until age 70. If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, your monthly benefit is roughly 24 percent higher than it would be at 67. After age 70, the benefit stops increasing, so there is no financial reason to delay past 70.
Delaying works best for people in good health, those with family longevity, or those who do not need the money yet. The higher monthly payment is especially valuable if you live into your 80s or 90s, because you receive the larger amount for more years. It also provides a larger survivor benefit to your spouse or children if you die.
You can work while delaying your claim with no penalty once you reach full retirement age. Before full retirement age, if you work and claim benefits, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above a yearly limit (the limit changes each year). This earnings test stops once you reach full retirement age.
How to Find Your Full Retirement Age
The fastest way to find your full retirement age is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You will need your Social Security number, email address, and a way to verify your identity — usually a driver's license or state ID. Once you log in, your statement shows your full retirement age and your estimated benefit at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70.
If you do not want to create an online account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to a representative. They can tell you your full retirement age and answer questions about when to claim. The phone lines are busiest early in the week and early in the month, so calling on a Thursday or Friday afternoon usually means a shorter wait.
You can also visit your local Social Security office in person. Find the office nearest you at ssa.gov/locator. Bring your Social Security card and a photo ID. No appointment is required, but wait times vary.
How Your Claiming Age Affects Your Spouse and Children
If you are married, your spouse may be may have access to to a benefit based on your work record. Your spouse can claim as early as age 62, but like your own benefit, claiming early reduces their payment. Your spouse's full retirement age follows the same schedule as yours.
If you have children under age 19 (or up to age 19 if they are in high school full-time), they may receive a benefit based on your work record. This benefit is not reduced if you claim early — it is calculated as a percentage of your full retirement age benefit amount. However, there is a family maximum: the total amount paid to you and your family members combined cannot exceed roughly 150 to 180 percent of your full retirement age benefit. If your family hits this limit, each family member's benefit is reduced proportionally.
If you die before claiming, your family members may still receive survivor benefits based on your work record. The amount they receive depends on your age at death and your earnings record, not on when you would have claimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my mind after I start collecting?
If you claimed before your full retirement age and have been collecting for less than 12 months, you can withdraw your claim and repay what you received. This resets your benefit to a higher amount. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw, but you can suspend your benefit at full retirement age and let it grow until 70. Suspension stops at 70.
What if I keep working after I start collecting?
If you claim before full retirement age and continue working, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above the yearly limit. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no reduction no matter how much you earn. Your benefit is recalculated at full retirement age to account for the months it was reduced.
Does my full retirement age change if I delay claiming?
No. Your full retirement age is fixed based on your birth year and does not change. Delaying your claim past full retirement age increases your monthly benefit, but it does not change what your full retirement age is.
What if I was born outside the United States?
Your full retirement age is the same regardless of where you were born. However, you must have a valid Social Security number and meet work history requirements. If you were not born in the U.S., bring your birth certificate and passport or travel documents when you explore.