Full retirement age by birth year
| Year of birth | Full retirement age |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Born on January 1? Social Security uses the previous year. Born on the 1st of any month? Social Security treats you as reaching each age the day before your birthday, which can move your dates up a month.
Claiming early or late
- Earliest: 62. Your benefit is permanently reduced, by up to 30% if your full retirement age is 67.
- Full retirement age: 100% of your benefit.
- Waiting past full retirement age: your benefit grows by 8% per year (2/3 of 1% per month) until age 70.
Estimate only, not financial advice. Rules can change. For your exact benefits, sign in to my Social Security at SSA.gov or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1960?
67. Everyone born in 1960 or later has a full retirement age of 67.
What is my full retirement age if I was born in 1958?
66 and 8 months.
Can I work and collect Social Security before full retirement age?
Yes, but if your earnings are above a yearly limit, some benefits may be temporarily withheld. Check SSA.gov for the current limit.
Does full retirement age affect Medicare?
No. Medicare eligibility starts at 65, no matter what your full retirement age is.
Sources
- Social Security Administration – Retirement age and benefit reduction (ssa.gov)
- SSA – Delayed retirement credits
Last reviewed: November 2026 · By the GoldenYearsTools team at XplainedDaily · How we build our tools