What is full retirement age for Social Security?
Full retirement age is the age when you qualify to receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefits. Your exact age depends on the year you were born.
The Social Security Administration uses this age to calculate monthly payments. If you claim earlier, benefits are reduced. If you delay, your benefit amount increases.
Full retirement age by birth year
Here’s when full retirement age begins, based on your birth year:
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
What happens if you claim benefits early?
You can start claiming Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but doing so will lower your monthly payments. The reduction is permanent.
- At age 62, your benefit may be reduced by up to 30%.
- The closer you are to full retirement age when you claim, the smaller the reduction.
Delaying benefits increases your monthly income
If you wait past your full retirement age to claim Social Security, your benefits will grow. For each year you delay up to age 70, your monthly benefit increases by about 8%.
Why full retirement age matters
Knowing your full retirement age helps you plan for retirement and maximize your benefits. It affects:
- The amount of money you’ll receive monthly
- Spousal and survivor benefit eligibility
- Long-term financial planning
- Medicare coordination (Medicare starts at age 65)
Key takeaways
- Full retirement age is based on your birth year, between 66 and 67 for most people
- Claiming before FRA permanently reduces your monthly benefits
- Delaying beyond FRA increases your monthly payments
- Understanding FRA helps optimize retirement decisions