Full Retirement Age
Updated October 2026 · 2026 figures from the Social Security Administration and IRS
Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. For people born from 1943 to 1954 it's 66, and it rises by two months per birth year in between (66 and 2 months for 1955, up to 66 and 10 months for 1959). Full retirement age (FRA) is the age you get 100% of your Social Security benefit; claiming earlier cuts it, waiting raises it until 70.
Born on January 1? Use the previous year. Below: the full chart, what full retirement age changes — benefits, spousal and survivor amounts, the earnings limit — and what it doesn't.
Full retirement age chart by year of birth
| Year of birth | Full retirement age | Benefit at 62 | Cut at 62 | Benefit at 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 | 75% | 25% | 132% |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months | 74.2% | 25.8% | 130.7% |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months | 73.3% | 26.7% | 129.3% |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months | 72.5% | 27.5% | 128% |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months | 71.7% | 28.3% | 126.7% |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months | 70.8% | 29.2% | 125.3% |
| 1960 and later | 67 | 70% | 30% | 124% |
Source: SSA retirement age chart. Percentages are of your full benefit (primary insurance amount).
Who reaches it in 2026 and 2027?
- Born in 1959: FRA is 66 and 10 months, reached between November 2025 and October 2026.
- Born in 1960: FRA is 67, reached during 2027. This is the first group with the final age of 67.
What changes when you reach it
| Rule | Before FRA | From FRA |
|---|---|---|
| Your retirement benefit | Reduced permanently (5/9 of 1% a month for 36 months, then 5/12 of 1%) | 100%, plus 8% a year if you wait, until 70 |
| Earnings limit | $1 withheld per $2 over $24,480 (2026); $1 per $3 over $65,160 in the year you reach it | No limit — work and earn any amount |
| Spousal benefit | Reduced (as low as 32.5% of the worker's benefit at 62) | 50% of the worker's full benefit |
| Suspending benefits | Not allowed (only withdrawal within 12 months) | Allowed, to earn delayed credits |
| Disability benefits | Paid as SSDI | Converted to retirement benefits, same amount |
The earnings limits come from the SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet. For details see the Social Security earnings limit and Social Security spousal benefits.
Survivors have a different schedule
Widows and widowers have their own schedule, two years behind: 66 for those born 1945–1956, rising by two months a year to 67 for those born in 1962 or later (66 and 2 months for 1957, 66 and 4 for 1958, 66 and 6 for 1959, 66 and 8 for 1960, 66 and 10 for 1961). See Social Security survivor benefits.
What it doesn't change
- Medicare still starts at 65. If you wait to claim Social Security until 67, you must sign up for Medicare yourself (see Medicare age).
- Required minimum distributions from IRAs and 401(k)s follow a different age — 73 or 75 (see RMD age).
- Employer pensions and 401(k) withdrawals have their own rules (59½ for penalty-free withdrawals).
Should you claim then, or wait?
It's the middle option, not a target. Claiming at FRA gives 100%; waiting to 70 adds 24% (born 1960+); claiming at 62 costs 30%. Compare your own numbers with the Social Security calculator and read Social Security at 62 for the early option.
Frequently asked questions
What is my full retirement age?
67 if you were born in 1960 or later; 66 if born 1943–1954; and 66 plus 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 months for births in 1955 through 1959. If born on January 1, use the previous year.
Is full retirement age going up to 69 or 70?
Not under current law. Full retirement age is fixed at 67 for people born in 1960 and later. Raising it has been proposed but would require Congress to pass a new law.
Can I work after full retirement age and still collect Social Security?
Yes. From the month you reach it there's no earnings limit, so you can earn any amount without benefits being withheld.
What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1959?
66 and 10 months. Claiming at 62 pays 70.8% of the full benefit; waiting to 70 pays 125.3%.
Is full retirement age the same as Medicare age?
No. Medicare eligibility starts at 65 regardless of when you reach FRA for Social Security.