What is full retirement age for Social Security?
Full retirement age, sometimes called FRA, is the point set by the Social Security Administration when you qualify for your full monthly benefit. It is not the same as the earliest claiming age, which is 62. It is also not the age when your benefit stops growing. If you wait past full retirement age, your benefit keeps rising until age 70 through delayed retirement credits. Source: ssa.gov.
What is my full retirement age by birth year?
Your full retirement age depends on the year you were born. Here is the schedule from the Social Security Administration:
- 1937 or earlier: 65
- 1938: 65 and 2 months
- 1939: 65 and 4 months
- 1940: 65 and 6 months
- 1941: 65 and 8 months
- 1942: 65 and 10 months
- 1943 through 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
Source: ssa.gov.
What happens if I claim before full retirement age?
You can start benefits as early as 62, but the monthly amount is permanently reduced. The reduction is 5/9 of 1 percent for each of the first 36 months before full retirement age, then 5/12 of 1 percent for each month beyond that.
For someone with a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 means about 70 percent of the full benefit. The cut stays for life, so it is worth planning carefully. Source: ssa.gov.
For a deeper look at timing, see more on claiming Social Security.
Has the full retirement age changed?
Yes. The full retirement age used to be 65. Amendments to the Social Security Act signed in 1983 slowly raised it to 67 for people born in 1960 and later. The change was phased in over many birth years, which is why the age depends on when you were born. Source: ssa.gov.
Can I work while receiving benefits before full retirement age?
Yes, you can work and get benefits at the same time. But if you are under full retirement age for the full year, the Social Security Administration holds back 1 dollar for every 2 dollars you earn above an annual limit. For 2025, that limit is 23,400 dollars.
In the year you reach full retirement age, the limit is higher and the withholding is lighter. The agency holds back 1 dollar for every 3 dollars above 62,160 dollars, counting only earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Starting the month you reach full retirement age, there is no limit at all.
The money withheld is not lost. Your benefit is recalculated once you reach full retirement age to credit those months. Source: ssa.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is full retirement age for Social Security?
It is the age when you qualify for 100 percent of your retirement benefit. For people born in 1960 or later it is 67.
What is my full retirement age by birth year?
It ranges from 65 for those born in 1937 or earlier to 67 for those born in 1960 or later, with a step-by-step scale in between.
What happens if I claim before full retirement age?
Your monthly benefit is permanently reduced. Claiming at 62 with a full retirement age of 67 gives about 70 percent of your full amount.
Has the full retirement age changed?
Yes. It rose from 65 to 67 under the 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act, phased in by birth year.
Can I work while receiving benefits before full retirement age?
Yes, but earnings above a yearly limit reduce your benefit until you reach full retirement age. The withheld amount is credited back later.
Need in-person help? You can find your local Social Security office. For one-on-one planning, talk to a licensed advisor.