Your Full Retirement Age: The Basics
Your full retirement age (FRA) is the age at which you become eligible to receive 100% of your Social Security benefits based on your earnings history. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines this age based on your year of birth. While many people can begin claiming benefits as early as age 62, doing so results in a permanently reduced monthly benefit. Conversely, delaying your benefits past your FRA can significantly increase your monthly payment up to age 70.
The Birth Year Breakdown
To determine your specific FRA, you must know your birth year. The FRA has been gradually increasing since 1983 as life expectancies have risen. The SSA has a clear schedule for this increase:
- Born 1943–1954: Full Retirement Age is 66.
- Born 1955: Full Retirement Age is 66 and 2 months.
- Born 1956: Full Retirement Age is 66 and 4 months.
- Born 1957: Full Retirement Age is 66 and 6 months.
- Born 1958: Full Retirement Age is 66 and 8 months.
- Born 1959: Full Retirement Age is 66 and 10 months.
- Born 1960 or later: Full Retirement Age is 67.
Factors That Influence Your Benefit Amount
Your final Social Security benefit is a result of several key factors, not just your claiming age. The SSA calculates your benefit based on your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) over your 35 highest-earning years. Here’s how these elements interact:
- Work History: The SSA looks at your earnings throughout your career. If you work fewer than 35 years, a zero is entered for each year without earnings, which lowers your overall AIME and, therefore, your benefit.
- Earnings Record: Your income over your working life is a primary determinant. The more you've earned (up to the annual maximum taxable amount), the higher your potential benefit. Working longer to replace lower-earning years with higher ones can also increase your benefit.
- Claiming Age: This is the most adjustable factor. Claiming early at age 62 permanently reduces your benefit (by up to 30% for those with an FRA of 67), while delaying until age 70 permanently increases it.
Comparing Claiming Ages
One of the biggest decisions in retirement planning is when to start your Social Security benefits. The table below helps illustrate the difference in monthly payments based on various claiming ages, assuming an individual born in 1960 or later with a full retirement benefit (PIA) of $2,000 per month.
| Claiming Age | Monthly Benefit (as % of PIA) | Example Monthly Benefit (with $2k PIA) |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | ~70% | ~$1,400 |
| 65 | ~86.7% | ~$1,733 |
| 67 (FRA) | 100% | $2,000 |
| 70 | 124% | $2,480 |
This example assumes an individual with a full retirement age of 67.
What if you keep working?
It is possible to work while receiving Social Security, but there are rules to consider before your FRA. If you are under your FRA, your benefits may be temporarily reduced if you earn over a certain limit. For example, in 2025, if you are under your FRA for the entire year, $1 is deducted from your benefits for every $2 earned above $23,400. However, once you reach your FRA, there are no limits on your earnings, and your benefits are no longer reduced. Furthermore, your annual earnings are still counted, and if they are among your highest 35 years, they can lead to a higher monthly benefit in the future.
The Importance of Claiming Strategy
Choosing when to start your benefits requires a careful evaluation of your personal circumstances. Factors like your health, other income sources, and financial needs all play a role. If you have significant savings and expect to live a long life, delaying benefits until age 70 may provide a larger total lifetime payout. However, if your health is a concern or you need the income sooner, claiming early may be the right decision for you. It's not just about getting the biggest monthly check, but about making the timing work best for your overall financial plan.
For more detailed information and personalized estimates, the official resource is the Social Security Administration website. You can create a personal “my Social Security” account to get an estimate of your benefits based on your earnings history and explore different claiming age scenarios.
Conclusion
For most people today, the answer to at what age do you get full social is 67. However, this is just the beginning of the story. The decision of when to start your benefits should be a thoughtful one, based on a clear understanding of the rules and how they apply to your specific situation. Whether you claim early, at your full retirement age, or delay until age 70, your choice will have a lasting impact on your financial well-being throughout retirement.
