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 Christy Bieber – Updated Jul 16, 2025 at 9:00 PM | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Full retirement age varies by birth year, but it is 67 for those born in 1960 or later.
Waiting to claim Social Security until after full retirement age increases benefits by 8% annually up to age 70.
Working after FRA won't cause you to lose Social Security benefits and can potentially increase future payments.

Full retirement age (FRA) is the age when you can claim your standard Social Security retirement benefit. Your standard benefit is 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 between 1943 and 1959, FRA is 66 and a number of months (dependent on your year of birth). For instance, if you were born in 1959, it is 66 and 10 months.

Loading paragraph...

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

Loading image...

Loading paragraph...

Table Source: Social Security Administration.
Birth Year	Full Retirement Age
1943 to 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

Loading table...

Loading paragraph...

Loading pitch...

Loading paragraph...

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

Loading image...

Loading paragraph...

Loading pitch...

Loading paragraph...

8 Strategies to Save for Retirement

You know you need to save for retirement. Here are some strategiess.

How to Avoid Social Security Scams

Keep your money and personal information safe from imposters.

Choosing the Best Retirement Plan for You

Which retirement plan is right for you and your needs?

A Complete Guide to Maximizing Your Social Security Check

Learning how to maximize your Social Security can make a big difference in your retirement. Here's what you need to know.

Loading hub_pages...

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.

Loading paragraph...

Loading pitch...

Loading paragraph...

Loading faq...

About the Author

Christy Bieber is a contributing Motley Fool retirement and Social Security expert covering retirement planning, 401(k)s, IRAs, and other personal finance topics. Christy has written about finance since 2008 and previously taught business courses at Bryant & Stratton College. She holds a law degree from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree in English, media, and communication with a certificate in business management from the University of Rochester. In law school, she earned three CALI Awards for Excellence for the highest scores in civil procedure and contract law exams.

TMFChristyB

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.