Full retirement age will reach 67 and then stay there

Social Security's full retirement age — the age at which you can claim your full benefit amount without reduction — has been climbing since 2000 and will stop at 67. For people born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. This is the final increase. The age will not go higher.

The increase happened gradually over two decades because Congress changed the law in 1983. At that time, full retirement age was 65 for everyone. The law raised it in two-month increments for people born between 1943 and 1954, paused, then resumed the increases for people born between 1955 and 1960. The last increase landed on people born in 1960, making their full retirement age 67.

This matters because claiming before full retirement age reduces your monthly benefit permanently. Claiming after full retirement age increases it. Understanding when your full retirement age falls helps you decide when to claim.

Key Takeaways

  • Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, and this is the final age the law will set — it will not increase again.
  • People born between 1943 and 1954 have a full retirement age of 65 or 66, depending on their birth year.
  • Claiming before full retirement age reduces your monthly benefit by a percentage that depends on how many months early you claim.
  • Claiming after full retirement age increases your benefit by 8 percent per year, up until age 70.

How full retirement age changed year by year

The increases were staggered so that different birth years hit different ages. People born in 1943 through 1954 reached full retirement age at 65 or 66. The first increase started with people born in 1955, whose full retirement age became 66 and two months. Each subsequent birth year added two more months.

The pattern continued until people born in 1960 reached full retirement age at 67. Because the law specified that 67 would be the final age, no one born after 1960 will see a higher full retirement age. The Social Security Administration publishes a full chart by birth year on its website, and you can also call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm your specific age.

What happens if you claim before full retirement age

You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but doing so before you reach full retirement age reduces your monthly benefit. The reduction is permanent — it applies to every check you receive for the rest of your life. The exact percentage depends on how many months before full retirement age you claim.

If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you receive about 70 percent of your full benefit amount. If you claim at 65, you receive about 86 percent. The reduction gets smaller the closer you get to full retirement age. Social Security publishes reduction tables for each birth year, and you can see your specific reduction amount in your online account at ssa.gov.

What happens if you claim after full retirement age

You do not have to claim at full retirement age. If you wait, your benefit grows. For each year you delay claiming past full retirement age, your monthly benefit increases by 8 percent per year. This increase stops at age 70, so there is no financial advantage to waiting past 70.

If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, you receive 124 percent of your full benefit amount. This higher amount also applies to any survivor benefits your family may receive based on your record. The increase is permanent, just like the reduction is permanent if you claim early.

Why Congress set 67 as the final age

In 1983, Congress raised full retirement age because people were living longer and the Social Security trust fund faced a shortfall. By increasing the age gradually, lawmakers intended to keep the program solvent without a sudden shock to people already near retirement. The decision to stop at 67 was a choice — Congress could have continued raising it, but did not.

Full retirement age of 67 has been in effect since 2000 for people born that year. It remains 67 for everyone born in 1960 or later. No law currently on the books will raise it further, though Congress could pass new legislation at any time if it chose to.

How to find your specific full retirement age

The Social Security Administration maintains a table that shows full retirement age by birth year. You can find it on ssa.gov by searching "full retirement age." The table covers every birth year from 1943 onward. If you were born before 1943, your full retirement age is 65.

You can also view your full retirement age in your personal Social Security account at ssa.gov. Create an account using your email, Social Security number, and other identifying information. Your account shows your earnings record, estimated benefits at different claiming ages, and your full retirement age. If you do not use the internet, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and a representative will tell you your full retirement age.

How this affects your claiming decision

Knowing that 67 is the final full retirement age does not change when you should claim — that depends on your health, finances, and family situation. But it does mean you can plan with certainty. You know the age will not move. You can calculate exactly what your benefit would be at 62, at full retirement age, or at 70, and compare those amounts against your own circumstances.

Some people claim early because they need the money now or have health reasons to expect a shorter lifespan. Others wait past full retirement age to maximize the monthly amount, especially if they are in good health or have family members who depend on their survivor benefits. The fact that full retirement age is fixed at 67 for your birth year means you can make that choice with complete information about what each age means for your benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Congress raise full retirement age again in the future?

No law currently in place will raise it. Congress could pass new legislation to do so, but has not. Full retirement age is set at 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, and that is the final age the current law specifies.

What if I was born before 1943?

Your full retirement age is 65. You can claim as early as 62 with a reduction, or wait past 65 to increase your benefit by 8 percent per year until age 70.

Does full retirement age affect when I can claim at all?

No. You can claim Social Security as early as 62 regardless of your full retirement age. Full retirement age only affects how much you receive — claiming early reduces it, claiming late increases it.

If I claim at 62, will my benefit ever increase to the full retirement age amount?

No. The reduction is permanent. If you claim at 62, you receive the reduced amount for life. The only way to get a higher benefit is to withdraw your claim within a certain window and file again later, which has specific rules and time limits.

Can I find out my exact benefit amount at different ages?

Yes. Your Social Security account at ssa.gov shows estimated benefits at age 62, at full retirement age, and at age 70. These are estimates based on your earnings record and current law, but they give you a clear picture of the difference each age makes.