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The Social Security full retirement age was phased in starting with the 1983 Social Security reforms, and in November 2026, the full retirement age permanently becomes 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. How and when you claim benefits will be a factor for the lifetime of your benefit check if you don’t claim it yet and are nearing this age.
Quick Facts: Social Security Full Retirement Age 2026
| Key Detail | Understanding Your Application |
| Looking for a new Full Retirement Age. | 67 (permanent from November 2026) |
| Who it affects | People born in 1960 or after. |
| Earliest claiming age | 62 (with benefit reduction) |
| The latest possible age to claim is 26. | 70 (maximum delayed credits) |
| Benefit reduction at 62 | The benefit rates are up to 30% lower than for the full benefit. |
| Delayed retirement credit | ~8% increase per year after FRA |
| Deadline to prepare | November 2026 |
What’s the Full Retirement Age for Social Security?
The Social Security retirement age is the age when you can receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefits. You pay a lower monthly amount forever if you claim before this age. Hold onto it, and your benefit will increase due to delayed retirement credits.
Many people thought that “full retirement age” was 65 — it used to be for most of the 20th Century. It was then incrementally increased to 66 for people born between 1943 and 1954 and has increased by 2-month intervals since then. This shift will come to an end in November 2026, when 67 will be the standard for all future retirees.
Social Security Retirement Age by Birth Year
| Birth Year | 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 or later | 67 |
For people born in 1960 or later, there is no option to claim Social Security benefits at a reduced rate at 66. The full retirement age for them is 67 — period.
What Happens If You Claim Early or Late?
Claiming at 62 – The Earliest Option
Social Security benefits can be started at age 62, but the payments will remain lower for an individual for the rest of their life. For people born between 1937 and 1956, retiring at age 62 means getting up to 30% less in Social Security payments. That reduction will never pass — it will be in your life for the long haul.
Example: If you get $2,000 per month for full benefits at age 67, you could drop that to about $1,400 per month at age 62 — and never recover that amount again.
Retiring at Full Retirement Age (67)
If you delay taking Social Security until your retirement age, you will get 100% of your calculated benefit. No cuts to pay, no penalties. This is the minimum amount the SSA has calculated, as determined by your earnings history.
Delaying Beyond 67 – Up to Age 70
The delayed retirement credits increase your benefit by about 8% each year after you reach Social Security retirement age. You could end up paying as much as 24% more per month if you wait between 67 and 70.
| Claiming Age | Benefit Received (% of FRA Amount) |
| 62 | ~70% |
| 64 | ~80% |
| 67 (FRA) | 100% |
| 68 | ~108% |
| 70 | ~124% |
Why the November 2026 Deadline Matters
It’s not just a date on the calendar anymore; it’s when the Social Security retirement age no longer moves. Previously, people were able to look up their birth year and see that they would retire at 65 or 66 years of age. As of now, anyone born in 1960 or after will have a full retirement age of 67.
The worry for those already in their 60s is straightforward: If you’re mentally set on a different retirement age, such as 65 or 66, and you take your benefit at that age, and then you claim before 67 thinking you’ve reached your FRA, you’ll guarantee that you get a lower benefit for the rest of your life. Most of the time, this is a mistake that cannot be corrected.
Therefore, making plans on social security retirement is very important for the upcoming period through November 2026.
Preparation Prior to November 2026
- Confirm your Full Retirement Age with ssa.gov: Log into your My Social Security account to obtain a statement of your true full retirement age.
- Assess benefits at various ages: Online tools from the SSA show estimates of payment at three various ages to help you make comparisons.
- Consider your health and financial condition: In certain cases it is wise for people to claim their payments early while in other cases especially where the person is healthy and expects to live longer, it is advisable to wait until later.
- Explore income bridges (if required): If your retirement age is somewhere between your potential age and age when you are entitled to your full benefits, you may need to fill up the gap by earning additional income in form of home equity, savings or even working part time.
- Consult a financial planner: A social security retirement planner will help you come up with an effective plan.
Social Security Benefits 2026: Key Numbers to Know
- Average monthly SS retirement benefit (2026): ~$1,976
- Maximum monthly benefit at FRA (2026): $4,018
- Maximum monthly benefit at age 70 (2026): ~$5,108
- 2.5% COLA adjustment from January 2026 for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still claim Social Security at 62 in 2026?
The full retirement age for those who were born after 1960 is 67. This will become permanent starting in November 2026.
What is the youngest age that I can collect Social Security at in 2026?
Yes. Social Security at age 62 is still the early age. But your benefit will be lowered by as much as 30% from what you’ll get at 67.
If I don’t take Social Security until after 67, what will happen?
The longer you delay, the greater your benefit will be (up to age 70, when you’ll get about 8% more for each year you delay). If you wait any longer than 70, there’s no monetary benefit.
Does the November 2026 change affect people already receiving benefits?
Not at all. This is not a change that takes effect for individuals currently receiving their Social Security retirement benefits; it applies only to individuals that have not yet taken their benefit.
How to find out what your age of full retirement is?
Sign in to your My Social Security account on the ssa.gov website and find out your FRA and benefits there.
After 67, will it be more when people retire?
No current legislation calls for more than 67. But the discussions about the future sustainability of Social Security could still lead to future changes. It’s worth keeping up to date with Social Security changes in 2026 and beyond.
Bottom Line
The Social Security full retirement age 2026 change is one of the most impactful near-real-time changes that near-retirees will have to contend with in decades — even if it is not news at this moment. Assuming the wrong claiming age can have serious financial repercussions that are not realised for 20-30 years, but can cost thousands of dollars throughout the entire retirement.
Don’t wait until November to check your FRA, know your benefit options at various ages and create a claiming strategy that works for you. Some hours of planning right now can save years of financial security in the future.
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