Quick answer: If you were born in 1960 or later, your Social Security full retirement age (FRA) is 67. You can start benefits as early as 62 at a permanently reduced amount, or wait until 70 to receive the maximum monthly benefit.
Key Takeaways
- Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later
- Claiming at 62 permanently reduces benefits by about 30%
- Delaying to 70 adds roughly 8% per year
- Check your personal estimates in a my Social Security account
Full retirement age by birth year
| 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 |
What happens if you claim early
Claiming at 62 with an FRA of 67 reduces your monthly benefit by about 30% for life. The reduction shrinks the closer you get to full retirement age. Early claiming can still make sense if you need income, have health concerns, or have a shorter life expectancy, but the cut is permanent.
What happens if you wait past FRA
Each year you delay between your FRA and age 70 adds roughly 8% to your benefit through delayed retirement credits. There is no benefit to waiting past 70. Someone with an FRA of 67 who claims at 70 receives about 24% more per month than they would at 67.
Working while receiving benefits
If you claim before FRA and keep working, the Social Security Administration withholds part of your benefit once your earnings pass an annual limit, which is adjusted every year. Once you reach FRA the limit disappears, and your benefit is recalculated to credit the withheld months.
How to check your own numbers
Create a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. It shows your earnings record and personalized estimates for claiming at 62, FRA, and 70. Review the earnings record for errors, since your benefit is based on your highest 35 years of indexed earnings.
FAQ
Is full retirement age the same for Medicare? No. Medicare eligibility begins at 65 regardless of your Social Security FRA.
Can my spouse claim on my record? Yes. Spousal benefits can be up to 50% of your FRA benefit and are also reduced if claimed before the spouse’s own FRA.
Do benefits increase with inflation? Yes. Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) are applied annually and are announced each October.
Sources
Last updated: August 15, 2026. Written by the InfoBrief Editorial team. We link to official government and company sources and update articles when facts change. See our disclosure.