"Full retirement age" (FRA) is the age at which you can claim your complete Social Security retirement benefit. Claim earlier and your monthly check is permanently reduced; claim later (up to age 70) and it is permanently increased. The FRA itself depends on the year you were born.
The table below reflects the Social Security Administration's scheduled increases, which rose from 65 to 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
Full Retirement Age by Birth Year
| Year of birth | Full retirement age |
|---|---|
| 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 and later | 67 |
Why the Exact Month Matters
If you were born in 1957, your FRA is 66 and 6 months — not a round 66. People often miscalculate their FRA birthday by a few months, which changes both the reduction for early claiming and the date their full benefit begins. Use a precise age calculator rather than rounding down.
To find your FRA birthday, add the FRA (years and months) to your birth date. For example, someone born March 15, 1957 has an FRA of 66 years 6 months, so their FRA birthday is September 15, 2023. Our Age Calculator computes exact age to the day, which is the safe way to land on the right month.
Early vs. Delayed Claiming
You can claim as early as 62, but benefits are reduced for each month before FRA (up to about 30% if claimed at 62 when FRA is 67). Delaying past FRA adds delayed-retirement credits of about two-thirds of 1% per month, up to age 70. The "right" choice depends on health, longevity, and income needs — not just the date math.
Authoritative References
Full retirement age and claiming rules come from the Social Security Administration. See ssa.gov and the SSA's retirement age page for official figures. DayFig calculates dates only and is not financial advice — contact SSA or a fiduciary advisor about your claim.