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Why do I have to wait until 67 to retire? Understanding your full retirement age

For those born in 1960 or later, age 67 is the designated 'full retirement age' by the Social Security Administration. This means you will receive 100% of your earned benefits at that time, which leads many to wonder, "**Why do I have to wait until 67 to retire?**" This timing was set to ensure the long-term financial stability of the program and reflect changing life expectancies.