What Is Full Retirement Age? Social Security Explained for 2026

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A senior couple walking outdoors and planning their retirement

Social Security is an important source of retirement income for many Americans. One of the first terms to understand before choosing when to claim benefits is Full Retirement Age (FRA).

Full Retirement Age is the age at which you can receive your full Social Security retirement benefit based on your earnings record. It is an important reference point when deciding whether to claim benefits early, at FRA, or later. The right filing age is personal and can depend on your health, work plans, cash flow, family situation, and other retirement income.

1. What Is Full Retirement Age?

Your Full Retirement Age is the age set by the Social Security Administration at which you can receive 100% of your Primary Insurance Amount, often called your full retirement benefit.

If you begin receiving retirement benefits at your FRA, your monthly payment is not reduced for claiming early and is not increased for delaying benefits. FRA is the benchmark used to compare all Social Security claiming options.

2. Full Retirement Age by Birth Year

Your FRA depends on the year you were born. Use the chart below to find your own Full Retirement Age.

Year of Birth Full Retirement Age
1943–1954 66 years old
1955 66 years and 2 months
1956 66 years and 4 months
1957 66 years and 6 months
1958 66 years and 8 months
1959 66 years and 10 months
1960 and later 67 years old

For people born in 1960 or later, Full Retirement Age is 67. If you were born earlier, use the chart above to identify your own FRA. You can also review a personalized retirement estimate through your my Social Security account before deciding when to claim benefits.

3. Claiming Benefits Before or After FRA

You are not required to begin Social Security retirement benefits at your Full Retirement Age. In most cases, you can start as early as age 62 or delay benefits until age 70. Each option changes the amount of your monthly benefit.

Claiming Early

You can start Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, claiming before Full Retirement Age permanently reduces your monthly benefit.

For example, if your FRA is 67 and you claim at age 62, your monthly retirement benefit is 30% lower than it would be at FRA. Claiming early is not automatically wrong, but it should be considered alongside your health, work plans, expected longevity, household needs, and other sources of income.

Delaying Benefits

If you delay retirement benefits after Full Retirement Age, your monthly benefit can increase through delayed retirement credits. For people born in 1943 or later, benefits generally increase by 8% per full year of delay after FRA, credited monthly.

For someone with an FRA of 67, waiting until age 70 can result in a monthly benefit equal to 124% of the FRA amount. Delayed retirement credits stop at age 70, so waiting beyond age 70 does not increase the benefit further.

4. Working While Receiving Social Security

You can work while receiving Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you are below Full Retirement Age, the Social Security earnings test may temporarily reduce benefits when your earned income is above the annual limit.

  • If you are below FRA for all of 2026: Social Security may withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $24,480.
  • If you reach FRA during 2026: Social Security may withhold $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above $65,160. This rule applies only to earnings before the month you reach FRA.
  • Starting with the month you reach FRA: There is no earnings limit for Social Security retirement benefits.

These rules apply to earned income from work. Income such as pensions, investment income, interest, and most retirement-account withdrawals generally does not count toward the Social Security earnings test.

5. How FRA Can Affect Spousal Benefits

Full Retirement Age can also matter when considering spousal benefits. An eligible spouse may receive up to one-half of the worker’s benefit amount at the worker’s Full Retirement Age.

The actual amount depends on eligibility rules, the age when benefits begin, and the spouse’s own earnings record. If a person qualifies for both their own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, Social Security generally pays the higher eligible amount. It does not add two full benefits together.

6. Questions to Consider Before Claiming

There is no single claiming age that works best for everyone. Before applying for Social Security retirement benefits, consider these questions:

  • Do you need the income now, or can you wait?
  • Do you plan to continue working?
  • How will claiming affect your spouse or family?
  • What other retirement income do you have?
  • Have you checked your earnings record and estimated benefit through your my Social Security account?

For many households, Social Security claiming is only one part of a larger retirement plan that may also include savings, pensions, Medicare decisions, taxes, and required minimum distributions.

Take Your Next Step

Understanding your Full Retirement Age gives you a useful starting point for planning when to claim Social Security. Before submitting an application, review your estimated benefits, your work plans, and your household budget.

Next, read our practical checklist:

Next Guide

4 Essential Things to Do Before You Claim Social Security →

Review a practical checklist before applying for Social Security retirement benefits.

Last reviewed: July 2026
Editorial note: This article is for general educational purposes only. It is not individualized financial, tax, legal, or retirement advice. Social Security rules and benefit amounts may change. For a personal estimate or claim decision, review your my Social Security account or speak with a qualified professional.

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