Your full retirement age depends on your birth year
The age at which you receive your full Social Security retirement benefit is not 65 for most people born after 1954. Full retirement age — the age when Social Security pays you 100% of your benefit — has gradually increased and now ranges from 66 to 67, depending on when you were born.
The Social Security Administration set this schedule decades ago to account for longer lifespans. 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 in between — increasing by two months for each year of birth.
You can claim benefits before your full retirement age, as early as 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently reduced. You can also delay claiming past your full retirement age and receive a higher monthly payment — this increase continues until age 70.
Key Takeaways
- Full retirement age is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later, and 66 if you were born between 1943 and 1954.
- Claiming at 62 gives you a smaller monthly payment for the rest of your life, but you receive payments for more years.
- Delaying your claim past full retirement age increases your monthly payment by about 8% per year until you turn 70.
- Your birth year determines your full retirement age; the Social Security Administration has a chart showing the exact age for each year.
Full retirement age by birth year
The table below shows the full retirement age for each birth year. This is the age at which Social Security will pay you your standard benefit amount — not reduced, not increased.
| 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 or later | 67 |
If you were born on January 1st of any year, you are considered born in the previous year for Social Security purposes. This affects which full retirement age applies to you.
What happens if you claim before full retirement age
You can claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payment will be permanently lower than it would be at your full retirement age. The reduction is substantial — claiming at 62 instead of 67 reduces your monthly benefit by roughly 30%, and the reduction is permanent even after you reach full retirement age.
The trade-off is that you receive payments for more years. If you live to an average age, the total amount you receive over your lifetime may be similar whether you claim early or at full retirement age. If you live longer than average, you will receive more total money by waiting. If you die before reaching your mid-80s, you will receive more total money by claiming early.
People often claim early because they need the money now, have health concerns, or want to retire before full retirement age. There is no penalty for claiming early other than the permanent reduction in your monthly payment.
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% per year. This increase continues until you turn 70, at which point it stops. If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, your monthly benefit will be about 24% higher than it would be at 67.
Delaying makes financial sense if you expect to live well into your 80s or 90s, because the higher monthly payment will eventually add up to more total money received. It also makes sense if you are still working and earning income, because Social Security reduces your benefit if you earn above a certain amount before reaching full retirement age.
You cannot receive more than the maximum benefit amount, no matter how long you delay. The maximum changes each year based on national wage trends.
How earnings affect your benefit before full retirement age
If you claim Social Security before reaching your full retirement age and you continue to work, Social Security will reduce your benefit based on your earnings. For 2024, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per year. In the year you reach full retirement age, the reduction is $1 for every $3 you earn above a higher limit, but only for earnings before the month you reach full retirement age.
Once you reach your full retirement age, you can earn as much as you want with no reduction to your benefit. This is one reason some people delay claiming — they can continue working without losing benefits.
The earnings limit changes each year. You can find the current limit on the Social Security Administration website or by calling their customer service line.
Spousal and survivor benefits have their own ages
If you are married, divorced, or widowed, you may be able to receive benefits based on your spouse's or ex-spouse's Social Security record. These benefits have their own full retirement ages and reduction rules, which are different from retirement benefits on your own record.
A surviving spouse can claim benefits as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled). A divorced spouse can claim on an ex-spouse's record at full retirement age or later, even if the ex-spouse has not yet claimed. A current spouse can claim a spousal benefit at full retirement age or later. Each of these has different reduction amounts if claimed early.
If you think you may be may have access to to spousal or survivor benefits, contact Social Security directly to understand how your full retirement age and reduction rules apply to your situation.
How to find your exact full retirement age
The Social Security Administration publishes an official retirement age chart on its website. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to confirm your full retirement age based on your birth date. A representative can answer questions about how early or delayed claiming would affect your specific benefit amount.
You do not need to make a decision about when to claim right away. Many people research their options years before they plan to retire. The Social Security Administration also offers a retirement estimator tool on its website where you can see estimates of your benefit at different ages based on your actual earnings record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my mind after I start claiming Social Security?
You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of starting to receive benefits, but you must repay all benefits you received. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw your claim. You can request a one-time increase if you have not yet reached full retirement age, but this is a different process and has strict limits.
What if I was born on the first day of the month?
Social Security treats people born on January 1st as if they were born on December 31st of the previous year. This means your full retirement age is based on the year before your actual birth year. Check the official chart or call Social Security to confirm your exact age.
Does my full retirement age change if I keep working?
No. Your full retirement age is fixed based on your birth year and does not change based on how long you work or how much you earn. However, your benefit amount may increase if you continue working, because Social Security recalculates your benefit each year based on your most recent earnings.
What happens to my benefits if I move to another country?
You can receive Social Security retirement benefits while living outside the United States, with some exceptions. Citizens of certain countries may have restrictions. Contact Social Security before you move to understand how it affects your benefits.
Is there a penalty for claiming Social Security and Medicare at different ages?
No. Your full retirement age for Social Security is separate from your Medicare may be able to access age, which is 65. You can claim Social Security at one age and enroll in Medicare at a different age without penalty.