Social Security Full Retirement Age by Birth Year
Full retirement age is the age for an unreduced worker retirement benefit. A January 1 birthday is treated as if it occurred in the previous year for this rule.
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| Birth year | Full retirement age | Months after age 65 | Earliest retirement claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 or earlier | 65 | 0 | 62 |
| 1938 | 65 years, 2 months | 2 | 62 |
| 1939 | 65 years, 4 months | 4 | 62 |
| 1940 | 65 years, 6 months | 6 | 62 |
| 1941 | 65 years, 8 months | 8 | 62 |
| 1942 | 65 years, 10 months | 10 | 62 |
| 1943–1954 | 66 | 12 | 62 |
| 1955 | 66 years, 2 months | 14 | 62 |
| 1956 | 66 years, 4 months | 16 | 62 |
| 1957 | 66 years, 6 months | 18 | 62 |
| 1958 | 66 years, 8 months | 20 | 62 |
| 1959 | 66 years, 10 months | 22 | 62 |
| 1960 or later | 67 — FRA for people born in 1960 or later | 24 | 62 |
Worker retirement-benefit FRA under current Social Security law.
- • FRA is not the same as the earliest claiming age and is not the same as Medicare eligibility age.
- • People attaining age 62 in 2026 have FRA 67 because they were born in 1964.
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Claim Age vs. Worker Benefit for FRA 67
Percentages apply to a worker born in 1960 or later with FRA 67. Dollar examples assume a $2,500 monthly full-retirement-age benefit before future COLAs.
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| Claim age | Benefit as % of FRA amount | Example monthly benefit | Change vs FRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 70.0% — Age 62 reduction for FRA 67 | $1,750.00 | -30.0% |
| 63 | 75.0% | $1,875.00 | -25.0% |
| 64 | 80.0% | $2,000.00 | -20.0% |
| 65 | 86.7% | $2,166.67 | -13.3% |
| 66 | 93.3% | $2,333.33 | -6.7% |
| 67 | 100.0% | $2,500.00 | Full retirement benefit |
| 68 | 108.0% | $2,700.00 | +8.0% |
| 69 | 116.0% | $2,900.00 | +16.0% |
| 70 | 124.0% — Age 70 delayed-credit level for FRA 67 | $3,100.00 | +24.0% |
Illustrative monthly amounts. Claim-age adjustments are permanent before future COLAs and recalculations.
- • For FRA 67, claiming at 62 starts 60 months early and produces the maximum 30% worker-benefit reduction.
- • Delayed retirement credits stop increasing the worker retirement benefit at age 70.
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Age 62 and Age 70 Benefit Percentages by Cohort
Worker retirement-benefit percentages vary because the distance from age 62 or age 70 to FRA changes by birth cohort.
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| Birth year | FRA | Claim at 62 | Claim at 70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 | 75.0% | 132.0% |
| 1955 | 66 years, 2 months | 74.2% | 130.7% |
| 1956 | 66 years, 4 months | 73.3% | 129.3% |
| 1957 | 66 years, 6 months | 72.5% | 128.0% |
| 1958 | 66 years, 8 months | 71.7% | 126.7% |
| 1959 | 66 years, 10 months | 70.8% | 125.3% |
| 1960 or later | 67 | 70.0% — Age 62 worker benefit for FRA 67 | 124.0% — Age 70 worker benefit for FRA 67 |
Percentage of the worker full-retirement-age benefit; SSA percentages are rounded.
- • Later cohorts have a larger age-62 reduction because FRA is later.
- • For cohorts shown here, delayed retirement credits continue through age 70.
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How Early and Delayed Claiming Adjustments Work
Social Security applies monthly adjustments rather than a single flat percentage for every claimant.
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| Claim timing | Monthly adjustment | Annualized effect | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 36 months before FRA | Reduction of 5/9 of 1% per month | 6.67% per 12 months | Applies to the 36 months immediately before FRA |
| More than 36 months before FRA | Additional reduction of 5/12 of 1% per month | 5.00% per 12 months | Applies only to months earlier than the first 36 |
| At FRA | No early reduction | 100% of FRA amount | FRA depends on birth year |
| After FRA for cohorts born 1943+ | Delayed credit of 2/3 of 1% per month | 8.00% per 12 months — 8% annual delayed credit for cohorts born 1943 or later | Credits stop at age 70 |
| After age 70 | No additional delayed retirement credit | 0% extra for waiting longer | Claim delay after 70 does not increase the worker benefit |
- • The early-retirement reduction is based on the number of months benefits begin before FRA.
- • Delayed retirement credits do not turn age 70 into a new FRA; FRA remains the unreduced-benefit reference age.
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Browser-only claim-age estimator
Social Security Retirement Age Calculator
Enter a birth year, claim age and monthly benefit at full retirement age. The tool estimates the worker claim-age adjustment for birth years 1943 and later.
Full retirement age
67
Based on birth year 1964.
Claim-age percentage
70.0%
Of the entered full-retirement-age benefit.
Estimated claim-age benefit
$1,750.00
Before future COLAs, deductions, taxes or earnings-test withholding.
Age 70 comparison
$3,100.00
124.0% of the FRA amount for this birth-year cohort.
Timing: the selected claim age is 60 months before FRA.
January 1 birthdays: SSA uses the previous birth year when determining FRA, so enter the previous year in this birth-year-only estimator.
Scope: this estimates a worker retirement-benefit age adjustment. Spouse, survivor, disability and dependent benefits use additional rules.
The calculation runs only in your browser. No birth year, benefit amount or claim-age entry is transmitted or stored.
2026 Social Security Retirement Earnings Test
The earnings test can temporarily withhold benefits for people who claim before FRA and continue to work. It is not an additional tax.
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| 2026 situation | Annual exempt amount | Monthly amount | Benefit withholding rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under FRA for the entire year | $24,480 — 2026 under-FRA annual earnings limit | $2,040 | $1 withheld for every $2 of earnings above the annual limit |
| Year you reach FRA — months before FRA | $65,160 | $5,430 | $1 withheld for every $3 of earnings above the limit |
| Beginning with FRA month | No limit — No earnings test from FRA month | No limit | Earnings no longer reduce retirement benefits under the earnings test |
2026 retirement earnings test amounts.
- • SSA can use a special monthly rule in some first-year retirement situations.
- • At FRA, SSA recalculates the benefit to credit months in which benefits were withheld because earnings exceeded the limit.
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Social Security Retirement Age vs. Medicare Age
Social Security claiming and Medicare enrollment are separate decisions. Delaying Social Security does not automatically mean Medicare should also be delayed.
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| Milestone | Typical age | What it controls | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest worker retirement benefit | 62 | Earliest regular worker retirement claim | Monthly benefit is reduced when claimed before FRA |
| Medicare eligibility | Generally 65 — Medicare eligibility generally remains age 65 | Health coverage eligibility and enrollment rules | Medicare age remains 65 even when FRA is 67 |
| Full retirement age | 66–67 depending on birth year | Unreduced worker retirement-benefit reference age | FRA is not a mandatory retirement age |
| Delayed-credit endpoint | 70 | Last age when waiting can increase worker retirement benefit | No additional delayed retirement credit after 70 |
| Survivor FRA | Separate schedule | Maximum survivor benefit age | Can differ from worker retirement-benefit FRA |
- • SSA advises people delaying retirement benefits to consider Medicare enrollment rules around age 65.
- • Survivor benefits can begin earlier than worker retirement benefits under separate rules.
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Factors That Change a Social Security Claiming Decision
Claiming age changes the monthly benefit, but the best timing decision depends on the household and cannot be determined from age alone.
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| Factor | Why it matters | Earlier claim may help when | Later claim may help when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash-flow need | Benefits can support current expenses | Income is needed now | Other resources cover spending |
| Work and earnings | Pre-FRA earnings test can withhold benefits — Working before FRA can trigger the earnings test | Earnings stay below applicable limits | Continuing work is substantial before FRA |
| Health and longevity | Claim timing changes monthly income for life | Shorter expected benefit horizon is a major concern | Longer benefit horizon is a major concern |
| Spouse / survivor planning | Worker claim age can affect household benefit strategy | Household needs favor current income | Higher worker benefit could support a future survivor benefit |
| Earnings record | Benefits use the highest 35 years of indexed earnings | Additional work is unlikely to replace lower years | Continuing work may replace low or zero earning years |
| Retirement savings | Other assets can bridge the gap before claiming | Portfolio withdrawals are undesirable or unavailable | Savings can fund a delay without undermining the plan |
| Taxes and Medicare | Social Security, other income, and Medicare premiums interact | Current tax situation favors claiming | A coordinated later-income plan is more efficient |
- • This table frames trade-offs; it does not identify a universally optimal claiming age.
- • Use personalized estimates from a my Social Security account before making a filing decision.
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Common Social Security retirement-age mistakes
Do not confuse age 62 with full retirement age
Age 62 is the earliest regular worker claim age. The monthly retirement benefit is reduced when benefits begin before the worker FRA.
Do not assume FRA is always 65
FRA gradually increased from 65 to 67. People born in 1960 or later have FRA 67 for worker retirement benefits.
Do not use the worker table for every benefit type
Spouse, survivor, disability, child and other benefits use additional eligibility, reduction and maximum rules. Survivor FRA can differ from worker retirement FRA.
Do not delay Medicare automatically
Delaying Social Security to 67 or 70 does not by itself delay Medicare eligibility. Medicare enrollment timing depends on age, employment coverage and other circumstances.
Personal benefit amounts depend on indexed lifetime earnings, claiming month, benefit type, work after claiming, family benefits, government pensions, taxes, Medicare premiums and other rules. Use a current my Social Security estimate and SSA guidance before filing.
Frequently asked questions
What is full retirement age for someone born in 1960 or later?
Full retirement age is 67 for worker retirement benefits if you were born in 1960 or later.
What is full retirement age for someone born in 1959?
Full retirement age is 66 years and 10 months for a person born in 1959, subject to the January 1 birthday rule.
Can I claim Social Security retirement at age 62?
Yes. Age 62 is the earliest regular worker retirement claiming age, but starting before full retirement age permanently reduces the monthly benefit before future COLAs.
How much is Social Security reduced at 62 if FRA is 67?
A worker with FRA 67 receives about 70% of the full-retirement-age amount at age 62, a 30% reduction.
How much does Social Security increase from 67 to 70?
For a worker born in 1960 or later, delaying from FRA 67 to age 70 raises the worker benefit from 100% to 124% of the FRA amount.
Does Social Security keep increasing after age 70?
No. Delayed retirement credits stop at age 70, so waiting beyond 70 does not create additional delayed credits.
Is full retirement age the same as Medicare age?
No. Medicare eligibility generally remains age 65 while Social Security full retirement age is 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
Can I work while receiving Social Security before FRA?
Yes, but the retirement earnings test can temporarily withhold benefits when earnings exceed the applicable annual limit before FRA.
What is the Social Security earnings limit for 2026?
For someone under FRA for all of 2026, the annual exempt amount is $24,480. SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above that limit.
What is the 2026 earnings limit in the year I reach FRA?
The 2026 higher exempt amount is $65,160 for earnings before the month you reach FRA, with $1 withheld for every $3 above the limit.
Is there an earnings limit after full retirement age?
No. Beginning with the month you reach FRA, earnings no longer reduce your retirement benefits under the retirement earnings test.
Are benefits withheld by the earnings test permanently lost?
Not in the same way as an early-claim reduction. At FRA, SSA recalculates the monthly benefit to credit months in which benefits were withheld because of excess earnings.
Does claiming at 62 mean I must stop working?
No. Claiming Social Security and stopping work are separate decisions, although working before FRA can trigger the earnings test.
Does survivor full retirement age use the same schedule?
Not always. Survivor benefits use a separate FRA schedule and can begin earlier under different eligibility and reduction rules.
What should I enter for a January 1 birthday?
SSA determines full retirement age for a January 1 birthday using the previous year, so use the prior birth year when applying a birth-year-only FRA chart.
Sources
Social Security Administration — See Your Full Retirement Age
https://www.ssa.gov/retirement/full-retirement-age
Explains that full retirement age is between 66 and 67 for current cohorts and that retirement benefits increase with later claiming up to age 70.
Social Security Administration — Retirement Age Calculator
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html
Provides the full retirement age chart by birth year and notes that a January 1 birthday is treated using the previous birth year for FRA purposes.
Social Security Administration — Retirement Benefits for People Born in 1960 or Later
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/1960.html
Shows that FRA is 67 for people born in 1960 or later and that claiming at age 62 can reduce the worker retirement benefit to 70% of the full amount.
Social Security Administration — Delayed Retirement for People Born in 1960 or Later
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/1960-delay.html
Shows that a worker born in 1960 or later receives 124% of the full retirement benefit at age 70 because of delayed retirement credits.
Social Security Administration — 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Fact Sheet
https://www.ssa.gov/cola/factsheets/2026.html
Lists 2026 retirement earnings test exempt amounts, the maximum taxable earnings base, and current benefit benchmarks.
Social Security Administration — Full Retirement Age for Survivor Benefits
https://www.ssa.gov/survivor/full-retirement-age-survivor
Explains that survivor full retirement age can differ from retirement-benefit FRA and that survivor benefits can begin earlier under separate rules.
Finance & Money
Social Security Retirement Age Chart
Social Security full retirement age depends on birth year. It is 67 for people born in 1960 or later, including people reaching age 62 in 2026. The earliest regular worker retirement claim remains age 62, but early claiming reduces the monthly benefit.
A worker with FRA 67 who starts at 62 receives about 70% of the full-retirement-age benefit. Waiting after FRA adds delayed retirement credits, reaching about 124% at age 70 for the same cohort. SSA publishes the age-by-age reduction schedule for people born in 1960 or later.
FRA is not a mandatory retirement age. A person can stop working before or after FRA, and can work while receiving benefits. The claim age, earnings history and work after claiming can all affect the amount paid. SSA defines FRA as the unreduced retirement-benefit reference age.
Born 1960 or later
FRA 67
This includes people attaining age 62 in 2026, who were born in 1964.
Earliest worker claim
Age 62
Claiming before FRA permanently reduces the worker monthly benefit before later COLAs.
FRA 67 claim at 70
124%
Delayed retirement credits raise the worker benefit to 124% of the FRA amount at age 70.
Medicare eligibility
Generally 65
Medicare age is separate from Social Security FRA and does not move to 67 with the retirement-benefit schedule.
Claiming age changes the monthly benefit for life
Claiming at 62 does not mean a worker is receiving the full retirement benefit. For FRA 67, the age-62 worker benefit is about 30% below the FRA amount before later cost-of-living adjustments.
Waiting from FRA 67 to age 70 adds 36 months of delayed retirement credits. At 2/3 of 1% per month for cohorts born 1943 or later, that produces a 24% increase over the FRA amount.
Stopping work and claiming Social Security are separate choices. Benefits are based on the highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so additional work can raise benefits if new earnings replace lower or zero years.
Before FRA, work can trigger the retirement earnings test. In 2026, the annual exempt amount is $24,480 for someone under FRA all year and $65,160 for earnings before FRA in the year FRA is reached. SSA lists the 2026 exempt amounts and withholding formulas.
Benefits withheld under the earnings test are not treated the same as the permanent early-claim reduction. At FRA, SSA recalculates the benefit to credit months when payments were withheld because earnings were above the limit.
Medicare and Social Security use different age rules. Medicare eligibility generally remains 65 even when the worker Social Security FRA is 67.