Your full retirement age is when Social Security considers you old enough to receive your complete benefit amount

Full retirement age (FRA) is the age at which you can claim your entire Social Security benefit without any reduction. This age is not 65 — it depends on the year you were born. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, it is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1959, it falls somewhere between 66 and 67, increasing by a few months for each year of birth.

The reason your birth year matters is that Congress changed the law in 1983. The full retirement age used to be 65 for everyone, but it gradually increased to address longer life expectancies and the changing ratio of workers to retirees in the Social Security system. This change was phased in over many years so people had time to plan.

Reaching your full retirement age does not mean you must claim benefits at that moment. You can claim earlier (as early as 62) and receive a smaller monthly payment, or wait until after your full retirement age and receive a larger monthly payment. Your full retirement age is straightforward the point where the reduction or increase stops changing.

Key Takeaways

  • Full retirement age ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year, and it is the age when you can claim your complete Social Security benefit without reduction.
  • If you claim before your full retirement age, your monthly benefit is permanently reduced by a percentage that depends on how many months early you claim.
  • If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by about 8 percent per year until age 70, when the increase stops.
  • You can find your exact full retirement age on your Social Security statement or by using the Social Security Administration's online calculator.
  • Earning income after you claim before full retirement age can reduce your benefits temporarily, but this does not happen once you reach your full retirement age.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The Social Security Administration uses a table based on your birth year to set your full retirement age. If you were born in 1943 or earlier, your full retirement age is 65. Starting with people born in 1943, the age began to increase. For each year of birth from 1943 through 1954, the full retirement age is 66. Then it increases in two-month increments for each year from 1955 through 1959. Anyone born in 1960 or later has a full retirement age of 67.

This gradual increase was intentional. Congress wanted to give people time to adjust their retirement plans. Someone born in 1955 has a full retirement age of 66 and 2 months, while someone born in 1956 has a full retirement age of 66 and 4 months. The exact number matters because claiming even one month early reduces your benefit by a small percentage.

You can find your exact full retirement age by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, where your statement lists it clearly. If you do not have an online account, you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 and ask. Having this number in writing before you make any claiming decision is important because the reduction or increase you receive depends on the exact month and year you were born.

What happens if you claim before your full retirement age

If you claim Social Security before you reach your full retirement age, your monthly benefit is reduced permanently. The reduction is not temporary — it stays in effect for the rest of your life, even after you pass 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 are claiming 60 months early. The Social Security Administration reduces your benefit by about 30 percent. If you claim at 65, you are claiming 24 months early, and the reduction is about 13.3 percent. The reduction is steeper for each month you claim earlier because the system assumes you will receive benefits for a longer period of time.

There is also an earnings test that applies if you claim before your full retirement age and continue to work. For every two dollars you earn above a certain amount (which changes each year), Social Security withholds one dollar of your benefit. This withholding stops the month you reach your full retirement age. Any benefits withheld are not lost — Social Security recalculates your benefit at your full retirement age to account for the months you did not receive payments.

What happens if you delay claiming past your full retirement age

If you wait to claim Social Security after your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases. The increase is about 8 percent per year, or roughly two-thirds of one percent per month. This increase continues until you reach age 70. After age 70, there is no additional increase for waiting longer, so the latest it makes sense to delay is age 70.

For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and your full benefit amount is $2,000 per month, waiting until age 70 would increase your monthly payment to about $2,480. This larger payment continues for the rest of your life. The trade-off is that you receive fewer total payments during the years you wait, so the break-even point — where the larger payments make up for the years you did not receive anything — is typically around age 80 or 81.

Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings test. You can work and earn as much as you want without any reduction to your Social Security benefit. This is one reason some people choose to delay claiming: they can continue working without losing benefits.

How full retirement age affects your spouse and children

If you are married, your spouse may be able to claim a benefit based on your work record. Your spouse's full retirement age is also based on their birth year, not yours. Your spouse can claim a reduced benefit as early as 62, or wait until their full retirement age to receive their full spousal benefit. The spousal benefit is typically up to 50 percent of your full retirement age benefit amount, but this is reduced if your spouse claims before their full retirement age.

If you have children under age 19 (or up to age 23 if they are in high school full-time), they may be able to claim benefits on your record once you claim. Your full retirement age does not directly affect when your children can claim, but it does affect how much they receive. The total amount that can be paid to your family on your record is limited to between 150 and 180 percent of your full retirement age benefit amount, depending on your situation.

How to find your full retirement age

The easiest way to find your exact full retirement age is to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, your Social Security statement shows your full retirement age clearly. You do not need to be near retirement age to create an account — you can do it at any time.

If you prefer not to use the online account, you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 and speak with a representative. They can tell you your full retirement age and answer questions about how it affects your specific situation. You can also visit a local Social Security office in person, though wait times vary by location.

The Social Security Administration also publishes a straightforward table on its website showing full retirement age by birth year. If you know your birth year, you can look it up yourself in a few seconds. Write down your exact full retirement age and keep it with your important documents, because you will need it when you decide when to claim.

Common mistakes people make about full retirement age

One common mistake is assuming that full retirement age is 65. This was true decades ago, but it has been increasing since 1983. Many people are surprised to learn their full retirement age is 66 or 67. If you claim at 65 thinking you are at your full retirement age, you may actually be claiming early and receiving a reduced benefit.

Another mistake is thinking that the earnings test applies after you reach your full retirement age. It does not. Once you hit that birthday, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction to your benefit. Some people delay claiming longer than they want to because they think they have to stop working, when in fact they could claim and work at the same time once they reach full retirement age.

A third mistake is not considering your personal situation when deciding whether to claim early, at full retirement age, or late. The "right" age to claim depends on your health, your family history, how much you need the money, and whether you plan to keep working. There is no single answer that works for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out my full retirement age without creating an online account?

Yes. You can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative. You can also visit a local Social Security office in person. The Social Security Administration website also publishes a table showing full retirement age by birth year that you can look up yourself.

Does my full retirement age change if I work longer?

No. Your full retirement age is determined by your birth year and does not change no matter when you claim or how long you work. However, working longer can increase your benefit amount because Social Security recalculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings.

What if I was born on January 1st — which year's full retirement age do I use?

If you were born on January 1st, you are considered to have been 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, so your full retirement age would be 66, not 66 and 2 months.

If I claim before my full retirement age and then change my mind, can I undo it?

You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of claiming and repay all benefits you received. After 12 months, you cannot undo the claim. If you withdraw, your benefit amount goes back to what it would have been if you had not claimed, and you can claim again later at a higher amount.

Does my full retirement age affect Medicare?

No. Medicare may be able to access starts at age 65 regardless of your full retirement age. You can claim Social Security at any age and still wait until 65 to enroll in Medicare, or you can claim Social Security at 65 and delay Medicare if you have coverage through an employer.