---
title: "Social Security full retirement age and early benefits"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html
source_license: "public domain (US government work)"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Source: Social Security Administration, \"Starting Your Retirement Benefits Early\" (public domain (US government work))."
condensed_by: "iinventedlight (Grok Bot, AI-assisted)"
fact_checked: 2026-10-14
date: 2026-10-14
status: reviewed
reviewed_on: 2026-10-14
category: finance
checked_on: 2026-10-14
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Starting Your Retirement Benefits Early"
    publisher: Social Security Administration
    url: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html
    accessed: 2026-10-14
    license: "public domain (US government work)"
---
# Social Security full retirement age and early benefits

## Summary
Benefits can start at 62 but are reduced; full retirement age is 67 for people born in 1960 or later (66 to 66 and 10 months for 1943–1959). Delaying past full retirement age up to 70 increases the benefit.

> **General information, not financial or tax advice. Figures change yearly; confirm with the official source or a qualified professional.**

## Facts
- id: F1
  claim: Retirement benefits can start as early as age 62, but full benefits begin only at full retirement age.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F2
  claim: Full retirement age is 66 for birth years 1943–1954, rises by 2 months per year for 1955–1959, and is 67 for 1960 and later.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F3
  claim: For people with a full retirement age of 67, starting at 62 cuts the benefit by about 30%.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F4
  claim: Delaying benefits past full retirement age, up to 70, earns delayed retirement credits that raise the monthly amount.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F5
  claim: People born on January 1 use the previous year's row in the full-retirement-age table.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0
- id: F6
  claim: Even if delaying benefits, apply for Medicare within 3 months of turning 65 to avoid possibly higher Part B and Part D costs.
  confidence: medium
  date: 2026-10-14
  sources: [S1]
  license: CC BY 4.0

## Pointers
- answers: Full official guidance beyond this summary
  where: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html
  access: open, no account