Full Retirement Age Chart: Find Your FRA by Birth Year

Your full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security retirement benefits depends solely on your birth year. If you were born in 1960 or later, your FRA is age 67. For earlier years, FRA increases in two‑month increments from 66 to 67.

Birth Year	Full Retirement Age
1943–1954	66 years
1955	66 years + 2 months
1956	66 years + 4 months
1957	66 years + 6 months
1958	66 years + 8 months
1959	66 years + 10 months
1960 or later	67 years

Source: ssa.gov

For 2025, the COLA is 2.5% and the maximum monthly benefit at FRA is $4,018. Use the chart to confirm your exact FRA before modeling any claiming age. Your actual benefit will vary based on your earnings history and the age you claim.

Data You Need Before Modeling Claiming Ages

Gather these items to run accurate scenarios:

• Your birth year (to confirm FRA from the chart)
• Your my Social Security account login (create one at ssa.gov/myaccount)
• Your most recent Social Security statement (shows earnings record)
• Your current work status and expected future earnings
• Your spouse’s age and earnings history (if married, divorced after 10 years, or widowed)
• A realistic estimate of your life expectancy

Do not rely on generic online calculators that ignore your actual work history. Only the “Plan for Retirement” tool at ssa.gov uses your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and the 2025 bend points (first bend point $1,226; second bend point $7,391). If you have fewer than 35 years of substantial earnings, your AIME includes zeros for missing years, which the SSA tool handles automatically — most generic calculators miss this and inflate your estimate.

Step-by-Step Workflow to Find Your Best Claiming Age

Step 1: Confirm your FRA from the chart. Write down the age for your birth year (e.g., 67 for 1960 births). This is the age at which you receive your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the benefit you get if you claim exactly at FRA.

Step 2: Log in to ssa.gov/myaccount and run the “Plan for Retirement” tool. Record the estimated monthly benefits at ages 62, your FRA, and 70. The tool uses your actual earnings record and assumes you continue working at your current level until you claim. You can adjust the “stop work” date later. For 2025, the tool uses the updated bend points.

Step 3: Factor in the earnings test if you claim before FRA and keep working. For 2025:

• Under FRA for the full year: $1 withheld for every $2 earned above $23,400.
• Reach FRA in 2025: $1 withheld for every $3 earned above $62,160 (applies only to months before your FRA month).

After you reach FRA, SSA recalculates your benefit upward to restore the value of withheld months — it is not a tax, it’s an actuarial adjustment.

Step 4: Apply early or delayed reduction math. Example for someone with FRA 67 (born 1960+): claiming at 62 means 60 months early. Reduction formula: 36 months at 5/9 of 1% (20%) plus 24 months at 5/12 of 1% (10%) = 30% permanent reduction. Delaying from FRA to 70 adds 8% per year (delayed retirement credits), maxing at 24% for three years (36 months × 2/3 of 1% per month).

Step 5: Check spousal and survivor impacts. If you are married, your claiming age directly affects your spouse’s benefit. A survivor inherits exactly the benefit you received — not your full PIA. Delaying to 70 maximizes that survivor benefit by the full 24% increase. For example, if your PIA is $2,000 and you claim at 62 (30% reduction = $1,400), your survivor gets $1,400. If you delay to 70 ($2,480), the survivor gets $2,480.

One Decision Criterion That Changes the Recommendation

The optimal age hinges on your estimated life expectancy:

• Life expectancy below 75 (serious health condition, family history of early death): Claim at 62. The break-even point for delaying to FRA is typically between ages 78 and 80. If you won’t live that long, waiting produces lower lifetime benefits. Run the SSA calculator assuming you die at 75 — the cumulative total from 62 to 75 almost always exceeds the total from 67 to 75.

• Life expectancy 85 or higher (excellent health, family longevity): Delay to 70. The 24% increase compounds over many years, giving the highest cumulative lifetime benefit. A $2,000 PIA delayed to 70 becomes $2,480. Living to 90 means an extra $480/month for 20 years = $115,200 before COLA.

Branch: After estimating your life expectancy, re‑run the “Plan for Retirement” tool at the age matching your group (62 or 70). Adjust the “stop work” date to your actual last day of work.

Stop threshold: If your benefit estimates differ by more than 10% from your own math, or if you are affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO), stop self‑modeling. Contact SSA or a qualified financial professional. WEP can reduce your PIA by up to $598 per month in 2025. GPO reduces spousal/survivor benefits by two‑thirds of your non‑covered pension.

Three Practical Tips for Choosing Your Claiming Age

Tip 1: Correct for the “work until claiming” assumption.
Actionable step: In the “Plan for Retirement” tool, set the “stop work” field to the year you actually plan to stop working — even if that year is before you claim.
Common mistake: Assuming the default benefit estimate is fixed. If you stop working earlier than the tool assumes, your actual benefit will be lower because fewer high‑earning years are included in the AIME calculation. For instance, if the tool assumes you work until 67 but you stop at 62, your AIME drops and the benefit estimate can be 10–20% less.

Tip 2: Do not treat withheld benefits as lost money.
Actionable step: If you claim before FRA and work above the earnings test limit, note the withheld amount. After you reach FRA, SSA recalculates your benefit upward to restore the value of those withheld months.
Common mistake: Forgoing work entirely just to avoid withholding. The withheld benefits are returned — the net effect is roughly neutral. In 2025, if you earn $30,000 and claim early, only $3,300 is withheld (($30,000 – $23,400) / 2). You get that back later through a higher monthly benefit after FRA.

Tip 3: Coordinate with spousal and survivor benefits — do not assume your spouse can “just get half.”
Actionable step: Log in to your spouse’s my Social Security account (with permission) and check the survivor benefit estimate at age 70. Compare that to your own benefit reduction scenario.
Common mistake: Claiming early without realizing the surviving spouse inherits only the reduced amount you received, not your full PIA. If you are the higher earner and die first, your spouse’s survivor benefit is permanently lower by the same percentage reduction you took.

Quick Decision Aid: Which Claiming Age Fits You?

Check the items that match your situation:

• I have a life expectancy below 75 (health concerns or family history). → Fit to claim at 62.
• I have a life expectancy above 85 and no immediate need for cash. → Fit to delay to 70.
• I plan to keep working past 62 and earn over $23,400/year (2025). → Fit to delay (or accept partial withholding).
• My spouse is the lower earner and will rely on my benefit as a survivor. → Fit to delay to 70.
• I need the income now and cannot afford to wait. → Fit to claim at FRA (or earlier, understanding permanent reduction).

Count “fit to claim early” vs. “fit to delay” items. More delay items → waiting is likely better. More early items → don’t feel pressured to wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the earliest age I can claim Social Security retirement benefits?

Age 62, but your benefit will be permanently reduced unless you are a survivor or disabled.

Does full retirement age change in the future?

For people born in 1960 or later, FRA is fixed at 67. No current legislation has passed to change it.

Will my benefit increase if I wait past age 70?

No. Delayed retirement credits stop accruing at age 70.

How do I find my exact FRA?

Use the chart above or check your Social Security statement at ssa.gov/myaccount.

Where can I see my personalized benefit estimates?

Create or log in to your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount to model claiming ages and see your earnings record.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Social Security benefit amounts, earnings test thresholds, and COLA figures are subject to annual updates from the SSA. Verify your specific benefit estimate and eligibility at ssa.gov/myaccount. Rules may vary for certain situations (e.g., WEP, GPO, disability, survivors). Always consult official SSA sources or a qualified professional for your personal situation.