Full retirement age is the age at which a person may first become entitled to full or unreduced retirement benefits.
If your full retirement age is older than 65 (that is, you were born after 1937), you still will be able to take your benefits at age 62, but the reduction in your benefit amount will be greater than it is for people who were born before 1938.
Here's how it works if your full retirement age is 67.
-
If you start your retirement benefits at age 62, your monthly benefit amount is reduced by about 30 percent. The reduction for starting benefits at age
- 63 is about 25 percent;
- 64 is about 20 percent;
- 65 is about 13.3 percent; and
- 66 is about 6.7 percent.
-
If you start receiving spouse's benefits at age 62, your monthly benefit amount is reduced to about 32.5 percent of the amount your spouse would receive if his or her benefits started at full retirement age. (The reduction is about 67.5 percent.) The reduction for starting benefits as a spouse at age
- 63 is about 65 percent;
- 64 is about 62.5 percent;
- 65 is about 58.3 percent;
- 66 is about 54.2 percent; and
- 67 is 50 percent (the maximum benefit amount).
Age To Receive Full Social Security Benefits
(Called "full retirement age" or "normal retirement age.")
| YearofBirth * |
FullRetirementAge |
| 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--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 and later |
67 |
| *If you were born on January 1st of any year you should refer to the previous year. (If you were born on the 1st of the month, we figure your benefit (and your full retirement age) as if your birthday was in the previous month.) |
The earliest you can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits will remain age 62.
Note: If you delay your retirement benefits until after full retirement age, you also may be eligible for delayed retirement credits that would increase your monthly benefit. If you decide to delay your retirement, be sure to
sign up for Medicare at age 65.
In some circumstances, medical insurance costs more if you delay applying for it.