Full Retirement Age by Birth Year

What Happens at Each Claiming Age — Relative to FRA

Why FRA Was Raised From 65

Social Security was originally designed with a retirement age of 65 — established in 1935. In 1983, Congress passed legislation gradually increasing FRA to reflect longer life expectancies and to strengthen Social Security's long-term financial position:

• For those born before 1938, FRA remains 65
• FRA gradually increased for those born between 1938 and 1959
• For those born in 1960 and later, FRA is 67
• There have been occasional legislative discussions about raising FRA further — potentially to 68 or 69 — but no changes have been enacted

The practical effect: Americans who planned to retire "at Social Security age" often find that 65 is no longer the full benefit age. Medicare eligibility remains at 65, but maximum Social Security benefits for most current workers require waiting until 67 for FRA (or 70 for maximum delayed credits).

FRA and the Earnings Test — An Important Interaction

FRA is also the threshold that determines whether the Social Security earnings test applies:

• Before FRA: If you claim Social Security early and continue working, benefits are temporarily withheld if your earned income exceeds the annual earnings limit ($22,320 in 2024). For every $2 earned above the limit, $1 in benefits is withheld. Importantly, the withheld benefits are not lost forever — they're returned through higher payments after you reach FRA.
• Year of reaching FRA: A higher earnings limit applies ($59,520 in 2024), and only $1 is withheld for every $3 earned above the limit.
• After FRA: The earnings test disappears completely. You can earn any amount without any reduction in your Social Security benefit. Many retirees who want to continue working find FRA to be the natural threshold for claiming — no restrictions, full benefit, unlimited earnings.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming FRA is still 65. Many people plan around 65 as the "Social Security age" — but for anyone born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. Claiming at 65 results in a significant permanent reduction from full benefit.
• Confusing Medicare age (65) with Social Security FRA (67). Medicare eligibility begins at 65 — two years before FRA for most current workers. These are separate decisions: you can enroll in Medicare at 65 while delaying Social Security until FRA or beyond.
• Claiming early because "I need the income" without modeling the lifetime impact. Sometimes early claiming is the right decision given financial circumstances. But the decision should be made after modeling the lifetime benefit comparison — not made by default because the benefit is available.
• Not understanding that delayed credits stop accruing at 70. There is no benefit to waiting past age 70. If you've reached 70 without claiming, claim immediately — there's nothing to gain from further delay and multiple months of benefits are being foregone.
• Claiming at exactly FRA by default without considering delay. FRA is the baseline — not necessarily the optimal claiming age. For healthy individuals with longevity in their family history, delaying past FRA to 68, 69, or 70 produces significantly more lifetime benefits for those who live long enough to reach the break-even point (typically around age 80–82).

Real-Life Example