Full retirement age chart by year of birth
Full retirement age is 66 for people born from 1943 to 1954 and 67 for people born in 1960 or later, with 2-month steps between. If you were born on January 1, read the row of the previous year. Type your date of birth to highlight your row and see your month.
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Type your date of birth to see your row and the month you reach it.
| Year of birth | Full retirement age | Months from 62 | Benefit at 62 | Benefit at 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 and prior | 65 | 36 | 80.00% | 132.50% |
| 1938 | 65 and 2 months | 38 | 79.17% | 131.42% |
| 1939 | 65 and 4 months | 40 | 78.33% | 132.67% |
| 1940 | 65 and 6 months | 42 | 77.50% | 131.50% |
| 1941 | 65 and 8 months | 44 | 76.67% | 132.50% |
| 1942 | 65 and 10 months | 46 | 75.83% | 131.25% |
| 1943-1954 | 66 | 48 | 75.00% | 132.00% |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months | 50 | 74.17% | 130.67% |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months | 52 | 73.33% | 129.33% |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months | 54 | 72.50% | 128.00% |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months | 56 | 71.67% | 126.67% |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months | 58 | 70.83% | 125.33% |
| 1960 and later | 67 | 60 | 70.00% | 124.00% |
Source: SSA: Normal Retirement Age; SSA: Effect of Early or Delayed Retirement on Retirement Benefits, opened on .
The January 1 and 1st-of-the-month rules, with real dates
Six birth dates around the turn of 1959 and 1960 and around March 1, 1960. The months are the ones SSA’s own calculator returned when we typed these dates on October 11, 2026.
| Born | Full retirement age | You reach it in | First month to start | Age 70 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 1959 | 66 and 10 months | October 2026 | January 2022 | December 2029 |
| January 1, 1960 | 66 and 10 months | October 2026 | January 2022 | December 2029 |
| January 2, 1960 | 67 | January 2027 | January 2022 | January 2030 |
| March 1, 1960 | 67 | February 2027 | March 2022 | February 2030 |
| March 2, 1960 | 67 | March 2027 | March 2022 | March 2030 |
| March 3, 1960 | 67 | March 2027 | April 2022 | March 2030 |
How do I read the full retirement age chart?
Find your year of birth in the first column. The second column is the age at which you can get 100% of your Social Security retirement benefit, in years and months. The last two columns show what share of the full benefit you get if you start at exactly 62 or at exactly 70. If you were born on January 1, use the previous year’s row. The row for 1943-1954 covers twelve birth years because they share the same age, 66.
How does the full retirement age change year by year?
For births in 1937 and before it is 65. Each year from 1938 to 1942 adds 2 months, from 65 and 2 months up to 65 and 10 months. The years 1943 through 1954 are all 66. Each year from 1955 to 1959 adds 2 months again, from 66 and 2 months up to 66 and 10 months. From 1960 on it is 67. Those are the steps in SSA’s table as published on October 11, 2026.
Which birthdays count as the year before?
SSA says persons born on January 1 of any year should refer to the previous year. Someone born January 1, 1960 uses the 1959 row (66 and 10 months) and reaches full retirement age in October 2026, while someone born January 2, 1960 uses the 1960 row (67) and reaches it in January 2027. Someone born December 31, 1959 also reaches it in October 2026. SSA’s calculator returned these months when we typed the dates.
Is full retirement age the age I have to retire?
No. Full retirement age is when you become eligible for unreduced retirement benefits. Benefits can start as early as 62 with a smaller monthly amount, and waiting past full retirement age, up to 70, makes the amount larger. The early vs delayed retirement page shows the percentages month by month.
Does the chart apply to survivor benefits?
Not necessarily. SSA notes that if you are eligible for benefits as a survivor, your full retirement age may be different. This chart is for retirement benefits on your own record, and this site does not cover survivor, spouse or disability rules.
Questions about full retirement age chart
What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1960?
67. People born in 1960 or later reach full retirement age at 67, except those born on January 1, 1960, who use the 1959 row: 66 and 10 months, which is October 2026.
What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1955?
66 and 2 months. Someone born on June 15, 1955 reaches it in August 2021. A person born on January 1, 1955 uses the 1954 row (66) and reaches it in December 2020, the month SSA’s calculator gave us.
What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1958?
66 and 8 months. The ages for 1956, 1957 and 1959 are 66 and 4 months, 66 and 6 months and 66 and 10 months.
Is any full retirement age higher than 67?
Not in SSA’s table as it showed on October 11, 2026: the table ends with 67 for 1960 and later. Rules can change by law, so check the SSA page linked below the table.
How is the benefit at 62 worked out?
SSA reduces the benefit 5/9 of 1% for each month before full retirement age up to 36 months, then 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond. With full retirement age 67 that is 60 months: 36 × 5/9% plus 24 × 5/12% is 30%, so 70% remains. For 1943 to 1954 it is 48 months and 25%.
Why does the chart say 62 but the timeline says the month after?
The chart counts from exactly 62. But you must be 62 for the entire month to be paid for it, so for most birth dates the first month is the month after your 62nd birthday month, and SSA’s calculator says you can not retire before age 62 and one month. The timeline shows that first month.
Related tools
More ways to check your federal retirement ages.
Retirement age timeline
Your ages 62, full retirement age, 65 and 70, month by month.Early vs delayed retirement
Percent of your benefit if you start early or wait, never dollars.Medicare eligibility age
Your 7-month sign-up window and when coverage starts.FERS minimum retirement age
For federal employees: the minimum retirement age by birth year.
Sources: what this page states and where we read it
| What the page says | Official page and where on it | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Full retirement age is 65 for 1937 and prior, rises 2 months a year from 1938 to 1942, is 66 for 1943-1954, rises 2 months a year from 1955 to 1959 and is 67 for 1960 and later. | SSA: Normal Retirement AgeTable “Normal Retirement Age”, Year of birth / Age | |
| If you were born on January 1, use the previous year’s row of the table. | SSA: Normal Retirement AgeNotes under the table, note 1 | |
| If you were born on the 1st of a month, SSA figures your benefit and full retirement age as if your birthday were in the previous month; January 1 counts as December of the previous year. | SSA: Starting Your Retirement Benefits EarlyNotes under the chart “Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth” | |
| The month you reach full retirement age, counted with the rule that you reach an age the day before your birthday. | SSA: Normal Retirement AgeSSA’s calculator “When will you reach your NRA?”, run on 2026-10-11 | |
| Full retirement age is when you become eligible for unreduced Social Security retirement benefits. | SSA: Retirement Age CalculatorPage introduction | |
| The reduction at 62 is 25.00% for 1943-1954 births, 25.83% for 1955, 26.67% for 1956, 27.50% for 1957, 28.33% for 1958, 29.17% for 1959 and 30.00% for 1960 and later. | SSA: Starting Your Retirement Benefits EarlyChart “Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth”, column 4 | |
| The benefit as a percentage of the full amount at 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 and 70, for every year of birth from 1937. | SSA: Effect of Early or Delayed Retirement on Retirement BenefitsTable “Benefit, as a percentage of Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), payable at ages 62-67 and age 70” | |
| The benefit is reduced 5/9 of 1% for each month before full retirement age, up to 36 months, and 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond 36. | SSA: Early or Late Retirement? (Actuarial Services)Section “Early retirement reduces benefits” | |
| The most you can lose by starting at 62 is 30%, when full retirement age is 67 (60 months). | SSA: Early or Late Retirement? (Actuarial Services)Section “Early retirement reduces benefits” | |
| You must be 62 for the whole month to be paid for it. | SSA: Starting Your Retirement Benefits EarlyNotes under the chart | |
| The first month you can start is the month of your 62nd birthday if you were born on the 1st or the 2nd, and the month after it if you were born on any other day (SSA: “you can not retire before age 62 and one month”). | SSA: Early or Late Retirement? (Actuarial Services)SSA’s calculator “Compute the effect of early or delayed retirement”, run on 2026-10-11 | |
| These ages are for retirement benefits; a survivor’s full retirement age may be different. | SSA: Starting Your Retirement Benefits EarlyBox “Related Information” |
Not confirmed: The chart is for people born from 1937 on. Years before 1937 all show 65, as SSA prints “1937 and prior”. Survivor and spouse ages follow other rules and are not shown.
General information from official sources, not advice. Rules can change by law, and the agency decides your case. Confirm your dates with the Social Security Administration, Medicare or the Office of Personnel Management before you decide. Nothing you type leaves your browser.