What Is My Full Retirement Age for Maximum Social Security?

When can you retire and collect Social Security? It depends on when you were born.

By Matthew Frankel, CFP – Updated Nov 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

FRA is 67 for those born in 1960 or later; earlier birth years have lower FRAs.
Claiming Social Security at FRA ensures full benefits; early claims result in reduced payouts.
Working after FRA has no earnings test impact and can increase monthly benefits.
The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›

Full retirement age (FRA) is the age when you can claim your standard Social Security retirement benefit. Your standard benefit is formally called your primary insurance amount (PIA), and it's based on your inflation-adjusted average wages earned throughout your career.

Full retirement age varies by birth year. For those born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. If you were born prior to 1960, your FRA is slightly lower. For instance, if you were born in 1959, it is 66 and 10 months.

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An infographic explaining the retirement, disability, and survivors benefits that come from Social Security. — Image source: The Motley Fool.

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Table Source: Social Security Administration.

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Two people looking at paperwork and using a calculator. — Image source: Getty Images.

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2. Are Social Security benefits taxable at full retirement age?

Your age does not have an impact on whether you will owe federal tax on Social Security benefits. Depending on your earnings, you may pay federal taxes on Social Security benefits regardless of the age at which you claim.

Social Security benefits are taxed on amounts exceeding the "provisional income" limit set by the IRS. To calculate your provisional income, add up all non-Social Security sources of income, including nontaxable income such as municipal bond interest, and include half of your annual Social Security income.

Single filers earning provisional income between $25,000 and $34,000 and married joint filers earning between $32,000 and $44,000 will owe income taxes on 50% of their Social Security benefits. For single filers with provisional income above $34,000 and married filers above $44,000, up to 85% of Social Security benefits will be taxable.

Taxes on Social Security remain in effect following the passage of the "big, beautiful bill" (now law) on July 4, 2025. However, a new temporary tax deduction for Americans age 65 and older has reduced the number of retirees taxed on benefits because the deductions for more retired people now exceed their taxable benefits.

The White House's Council of Economic Advisers estimated that 88% of retirees will not pay tax on their payments as long as the deduction remains in effect.

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3. Is your full retirement age affected by where you live?

Your full retirement age is not affected by where you live. Most Social Security rules, including those that determine benefit amount and claiming age, are set by federal law. However, some states do tax Social Security benefits, so where you live can affect tax levels on your retirement income. But again, the age at which you claim benefits won't affect your tax rate -- your income is the key factor.

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About the Author

Matt Frankel, CFP, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst and personal finance expert covering financial stocks, REITs, SPACs, and personal finance. Prior to The Motley Fool, Matt taught high school and college mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University, and a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. He won a SABEW award for coverage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He is also regularly interviewed by Cheddar, The National Desk, and other TV networks and publications for his financial, stock market, and investing expertise.

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