Full retirement age moves to 67 for people born in 1960 and later

If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age — the age at which Social Security pays you 100 percent of your benefit — is 67. This shift began in 2003 and continues through 2026. The change matters because claiming before full retirement age reduces your monthly payment permanently, and claiming after it increases your payment. Understanding when your full retirement age lands helps you decide when to start benefits.

The Social Security Administration raised full retirement age gradually over decades because people live longer now than when the program started. For people born before 1943, full retirement age stayed at 65. For those born between 1943 and 1954, it is 66. For those born between 1955 and 1959, it falls somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on birth year. By 2026, anyone born in 1960 or later has a full retirement age of 67.

Key Takeaways

  • Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, and this age does not change again after 2026.
  • Claiming at 62 (the earliest possible age) reduces your monthly payment by roughly 30 percent compared to claiming at 67.
  • Claiming at 70 increases your monthly payment by roughly 24 percent compared to claiming at 67.
  • Your birth year determines your full retirement age; the Social Security Administration website has a table showing the exact age for each year.

How your birth year determines your full retirement age

The Social Security Administration uses a fixed schedule based on birth year. If you were born in 1955, your full retirement age is 66 and 2 months. If you were born in 1956, it is 66 and 4 months. This continues in two-month increments until 1960, when it locks at 67 for everyone born that year and later.

You can find your exact full retirement age on the Social Security Administration's website under "Retirement Age Calculator" or in their printed table. The table lists every birth year and the corresponding full retirement age in years and months. Knowing this number matters because it is the baseline for calculating your payment at any other claiming age.

What happens to your payment if you claim before 67

You can start Social Security as early as age 62, but claiming before your full retirement age means a permanent reduction in your monthly payment. The reduction is roughly 30 percent if you claim at 62 and your full retirement age is 67. If your full retirement age is 66, claiming at 62 reduces your payment by roughly 25 percent. The earlier you claim, the larger the cut.

This reduction stays with you for life. If you claim at 62 and live to 90, you receive the reduced amount every month for 28 years. The Social Security Administration does not raise the payment back to the full retirement age amount later. Some people claim early because they need the money now, or because they do not expect to live past a certain age. Others claim early and regret it. There is no way to undo the choice once you have been receiving benefits for more than 12 months.

What happens to your payment if you claim after 67

If you wait past your full retirement age to claim, your monthly payment increases. For each year you delay between 67 and 70, your payment grows by roughly 8 percent per year. If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, your payment is roughly 24 percent higher than it would have been at 67. After age 70, the payment does not increase further, so there is no financial reason to delay past 70.

Waiting makes sense if you are in good health, expect to live into your mid-80s or later, or do not need the money right away. Waiting also protects your spouse: if you die, your surviving spouse may receive a higher survivor benefit based on your higher payment. However, waiting means you receive nothing from Social Security for three years, which is a real cost if you need the income now.

How the full retirement age change affects spousal and survivor benefits

If you are married, your spouse may be able to receive a benefit based on your work record. The amount your spouse receives also depends on your full retirement age and when they claim. A spouse claiming at their own full retirement age receives roughly 32 percent of your full retirement age benefit. A spouse claiming at 62 receives roughly 32 to 35 percent of your benefit, depending on your full retirement age.

If you die, your surviving spouse and children may receive survivor benefits based on your work record. The higher your benefit when you die, the higher their survivor benefits. This is one reason some people delay claiming: to lock in a larger survivor benefit for their family. Survivor benefits do not increase after age 70, so there is no reason to delay past 70 for this reason either.

Why the full retirement age stopped changing at 67

Congress set the full retirement age to rise to 67 and then stop. It does not continue rising after 2026. This means anyone born in 1960 or later has a full retirement age of 67, and this will not change unless Congress passes new legislation. Some people have proposed raising it further, but as of now, 67 is the permanent full retirement age for all future retirees.

The reason Congress chose 67 was that people were living longer when the change was made in 1983. The idea was to keep the program sustainable by adjusting the age at which people receive full benefits. However, life expectancy gains have not been equal across income levels: wealthier people live longer on average than lower-income people, which means the change affects different groups differently.

How to find your exact full retirement age

The Social Security Administration provides several ways to find your full retirement age. The easiest is to visit ssa.gov and use the "Retirement Age Calculator" tool. You enter your birth date and it tells you your full retirement age in years and months. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative. If you have a my Social Security account online, you can log in and see your full retirement age listed in your account information.

You can also download a PDF table from the Social Security Administration website that lists every birth year from 1943 onward and the corresponding full retirement age. Print it or save it for your records. Knowing your full retirement age is the first step in deciding when to claim, so take time to confirm the exact number before you make your choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does full retirement age keep rising after 2026?

No. Congress set the full retirement age to reach 67 for people born in 1960 and later, and then stop. Unless Congress passes new legislation, 67 is the permanent full retirement age for all future retirees. Anyone born in 1960 or later has a full retirement age of 67.

Can I change my mind after I start claiming at 62?

You can withdraw your claim and stop receiving benefits within 12 months of starting, but you must repay all the money you received. After 12 months, you cannot undo the claim. If you claimed at 62 and regret it, you cannot raise your payment back to the full retirement age amount later.

What if I was born on January 1st — which year's rules apply to me?

Social Security treats people born on January 1st as if they were born on December 31st of the previous year. So if you were born on January 1, 1960, your full retirement age is 66 and 10 months, not 67. Check the Social Security Administration's table or calculator to confirm your exact age.

Does my full retirement age affect Medicare?

No. You become may be able to access for Medicare at 65, regardless of your full retirement age for Social Security. You can claim Social Security at 62 and wait until 65 to start Medicare, or vice versa. The two programs have separate ages and rules.

If I'm self-employed, does my full retirement age change?

No. Your full retirement age is the same whether you worked for an employer, were self-employed, or did both. Your birth year determines your full retirement age, not your type of work. Self-employed people pay Social Security taxes the same way employees do.