Social Security Full Retirement Age Calculator
Find your Full Retirement Age and see how claiming early at 62 or delaying to 70 changes your benefit.
You can start Social Security as early as 62, but your benefit is permanently reduced by about 30%. Waiting until your Full Retirement Age (67 years) pays 100%, and delaying up to age 70 adds delayed retirement credits worth about +24% total. Estimates only — confirm with the Social Security Administration (ssa.gov).
How Social Security Full Retirement Age Works
Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is the age at which you receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefit. You can claim as early as age 62 (with a permanent reduction) or as late as age 70 (with delayed retirement credits worth 8% per year after FRA). Benefits do not grow by waiting beyond age 70.
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 or later | 67 |
Claiming Early vs. Delaying
- Age 62 (earliest): benefit permanently reduced ~25% (FRA 66) to ~30% (FRA 67).
- Full Retirement Age: you receive 100% of your benefit.
- Age 70 (latest worth delaying): +8% per year in delayed credits — up to ~24% (FRA 67) or ~32% (FRA 66) more.
Estimates use the published Social Security Administration rules and are for reference only. Your actual benefit depends on your lifetime earnings — check your statement at ssa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Full Retirement Age (FRA)?
- Full Retirement Age is when you can claim 100% of your Social Security benefit. It depends on your birth year: 66 for people born 1943–1954, rising 2 months per year for 1955–1959, and 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.
- Can I retire at 62?
- Yes. Age 62 is the earliest you can claim Social Security, but your benefit is permanently reduced — about 25% if your FRA is 66, and 30% if your FRA is 67.
- What happens if I delay past my Full Retirement Age?
- You earn delayed retirement credits of 8% per year (2/3 of 1% per month) until age 70. Waiting from an FRA of 67 to age 70 raises your benefit by about 24%; from an FRA of 66 it adds about 32%. Credits stop accruing at 70.
- Does my birth month matter?
- It affects the exact calendar date you reach FRA. Enter your birth month and the calculator shows the month and year you hit Full Retirement Age.
- Is this an official estimate?
- No. This tool applies the published Social Security Administration rules for reference. Your actual benefit depends on your earnings history — verify it at ssa.gov.
📅 Last updated: June 2026 · Formulas follow standard banking / tax conventions · Results are for reference only.