Your Social Security full retirement age (FRA) depends on your birth year: it ranges from 65 for people born in 1937 or earlier to 67 for those born in 1960 or later. Use the chart below to find your FRA for retired-worker benefits. If your birthday is January 1, use the row for the previous birth year.
Full retirement age by birth year
| Year of birth | Full retirement age |
|---|---|
| 1937 and earlier | 65 |
| 1938 | 65 years, 2 months |
| 1939 | 65 years, 4 months |
| 1940 | 65 years, 6 months |
| 1941 | 65 years, 8 months |
| 1942 | 65 years, 10 months |
| 1943–1954 | 66 |
| 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 and later | 67 |
This is the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) current full retirement age schedule for retired-worker benefits, accessed in 2026. See the SSA’s normal retirement age table and footnotes.
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What full retirement age means
FRA is the age at which you qualify for your unreduced Social Security retired-worker benefit under the schedule. It is not a required age to stop working or to claim. The earliest you can start retirement benefits is 62; claiming before your FRA reduces the monthly benefit. The reduction reflects how many months early you claim—it does not change your birth-year FRA.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11If you delay claiming past FRA, you may earn delayed retirement credits. For people born in 1943 or later, the rate is 8 percent per year, and credits stop accumulating at age 70. This is a Social Security benefit adjustment, not an investment return. SSA explains delayed retirement credits.
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How to check your own birth year
- Find your birth year in the chart and read across to the FRA.
- If you were born on January 1, use the previous year’s row. SSA applies this rule in its online retirement age calculator; enter the previous year when prompted.
- For a personal benefit estimate, use your SSA account or the agency’s retirement benefits publication. The chart gives the general age schedule, not an estimate based on your earnings record.
FRA is not Medicare eligibility age
Social Security FRA and Medicare eligibility are separate rules. In its January 2, 2026 FAQ, SSA says FRA is 67 for people attaining age 62 in 2026, while Medicare eligibility age remains 65. Reaching one age does not mean you have reached the other.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When other Social Security rules may apply
This chart covers retired-worker benefits. Survivor benefits can use different rules; SSA notes a special birth-year adjustment for certain widow and widower reduction calculations. Check the applicable SSA guidance if you are considering survivor benefits rather than your own retirement benefit.
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Choosing when to claim depends on more than the chart. The decision can affect your monthly amount and the length of time you may receive benefits; work and earnings, Medicare timing, your health, household circumstances, and earnings record may also matter. No single claiming age is right for everyone.
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