Social Security Full Retirement Age by Birth Year
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Full Retirement Age, or FRA, is the age at which a worker can receive the unreduced retirement benefit associated with the PIA. It is not automatically 65 or 67 for everyone.
FRA chart
| Birth year | 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 |
Why exact months matter
Early reductions and delayed credits are calculated by month. A calculator that stores FRA only as 66 or 67 will be wrong for transition birth years and can misstate the benefit factor or crossover date.
January 1 birthdays
SSA materials note special treatment for people born on January 1, who generally use the prior year when determining FRA. The production logic should use SSA's exact date convention and include a January 1 test case.
FRA is not a required retirement date
FRA is a benefit-calculation point. A person can stop work at a different age and can generally start retirement benefits from 62 through 70. Stopping work can also affect the earnings record if it replaces assumed high-earning years with zeros or lower years.
Use FRA in break-even analysis
Calculate the exact FRA month, then measure how many months each claim date is before or after it. Do not approximate a partial year with a decimal age if the calculator can accept calendar dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is FRA 65?
Only for older birth cohorts shown in the chart.
Is FRA 67 for everyone?
No. It is 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
Can I claim before FRA?
Retirement benefits can generally begin at 62, with a reduction.
Can I delay after FRA?
Yes, with delayed credits up to age 70.
Sources
- SSA early and delayed retirement: https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/early_late.html
- SSA retirement planner: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying2.html
Source research checked September 12, 2026. Recheck changeable rules before publication and complete the recorded calculation review. CalculatorGeek is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration. This material provides educational estimates, not Social Security, legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
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