Your full retirement age depends on when you were born, and it has risen over time
Full retirement age is the age at which Social Security calculates your benefit as 100 percent of what you have earned. If you were born in 1943 or later, your full retirement age is higher than 65. The Social Security Administration raised it gradually starting in 2000, and the increase continues through 2022. Where you fall in that timeline determines your exact age.
This change was written into law in 1983 as a response to longer life expectancy and the growing cost of paying benefits. Congress did not raise the benefit amount itself — instead, they raised the age at which you receive your full amount. If you claim before your full retirement age, your monthly payment is permanently reduced. If you claim after it, your payment increases.
The increase affects when you can claim without a reduction, when you become may be able to access for spousal and survivor benefits, and how much you lose if you claim early. Understanding your specific full retirement age is the first step in deciding when to claim.
Key Takeaways
- Full retirement age ranges from 65 to 67 depending on your birth year, with the increase phasing in from 2000 to 2022.
- Claiming before your full retirement age reduces your monthly benefit permanently, with the reduction ranging from 6.67 percent to 30 percent depending on how early you claim.
- Claiming after your full retirement age increases your benefit by 8 percent per year, up to age 70.
- Your full retirement age affects spousal and survivor benefits as well as your own retirement benefit.
- You can find your exact full retirement age on your Social Security statement or by using the Social Security Administration's online calculator.
How full retirement age is determined by birth year
The Social Security Administration uses a fixed schedule based 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, increasing by two months for each year of birth. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67.
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 |
This schedule is fixed by law and will not change for future retirees. If you were born in 1960 or later, 67 is your full retirement age regardless of when you actually claim benefits.
What happens if you claim before your full retirement age
You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced. The reduction is not temporary — it applies to every payment you receive for the rest of your life. The earlier you claim, the larger the reduction.
If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, your benefit is reduced by 30 percent. If you claim at 65, it is reduced by 13.33 percent. If you claim at 66, it is reduced by 6.67 percent. These reductions are calculated by the Social Security Administration using a formula that accounts for the longer period over which you will receive payments.
The reduction applies to your own retirement benefit. It also affects any spousal or survivor benefits your family members may receive based on your record. For example, if you die before reaching your full retirement age, your widow or widower will receive a reduced survivor benefit if they have not yet reached their own full retirement age.
What happens if you claim after your full retirement age
For every year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by 8 percent per year. This increase, called delayed retirement credits, continues until you reach age 70. At that point, the increase stops, so there is no financial advantage to waiting past 70.
If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, your monthly benefit will be 24 percent higher than it would be at 67. This higher amount is locked in for life. The trade-off is that you receive fewer total payments during the years you waited, so the break-even point — the age at which you will have received the same total amount either way — typically falls in the early 80s.
Delayed retirement credits explore only to your own retirement benefit. They do not increase spousal or survivor benefits, which are calculated differently. If you are married, your spouse's benefit may be affected by your decision to delay, so coordinating the timing of both claims can be important.
How full retirement age affects spousal and survivor benefits
Your full retirement age also determines when your spouse can receive a full spousal benefit based on your record. A spouse can claim a reduced spousal benefit as early as 62, but the full spousal benefit is available only at the spouse's own full retirement age. The full spousal benefit is typically 50 percent of your primary insurance amount — the benefit you would receive at your own full retirement age.
If your spouse claims before reaching their full retirement age, their spousal benefit is reduced. The reduction follows the same formula as early retirement reductions: claiming at 62 results in a 32.5 percent reduction if their full retirement age is 67.
Survivor benefits — paid to your widow, widower, or children if you die — are also affected by your full retirement age. The maximum family benefit is typically 150 to 180 percent of your primary insurance amount. If you die before reaching your full retirement age, survivor benefits may be reduced. The exact reduction depends on the survivor's age and relationship to you.
How to find your full retirement age
The easiest way to find your full retirement age is to check your Social Security statement. You can view your statement online at ssa.gov by creating a my Social Security account. The statement lists your full retirement age clearly and also shows your estimated benefits at different claiming ages.
If you do not have an online account, you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask an agent for your full retirement age. You can also use the Social Security Administration's retirement age calculator on their website, which asks for your birth date and returns your exact full retirement age in seconds.
Your full retirement age will not change once you know it. It is determined by your birth year and is the same whether you claim early, on time, or late. Knowing this age helps you understand what your benefit will be under different claiming scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my full retirement age?
No. Your full retirement age is determined by your birth year and cannot be changed. It is set by federal law and applies to all people born in your year. You can choose when to claim benefits, but your full retirement age itself is fixed.
If I claim at 62, will my benefit ever increase to the full amount?
No. The reduction for claiming early is permanent. If you claim at 62, your benefit will remain reduced for life, even after you reach your full retirement age. The reduction does not go away at any point.
Does working after I claim Social Security affect my full retirement age?
No. Working does not change your full retirement age. However, if you claim before your full retirement age and earn above a certain amount, Social Security may temporarily withhold part of your benefit. Once you reach your full retirement age, this earnings limit no longer applies.
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 your birthday is January 1, 1955, Social Security treats you as if you were born in 1954, so your full retirement age is 66.
Does my full retirement age affect Medicare may be able to access?
No. Medicare may be able to access is based on age 65, not on your full retirement age. You become may be able to access for Medicare at 65 regardless of when your full retirement age is or when you claim Social Security benefits.