About the Full Retirement Age Calculator
This full retirement age calculator tells you the age and the exact month at which you reach Social Security full retirement age (FRA), the point at which you receive 100% of your primary insurance amount (PIA). Enter your date of birth and the age at which you are thinking of claiming; the calculator shows the percentage of your benefit you would get, the months early or late, and the matching spousal percentage.
It is meant for anyone deciding when to claim: workers comparing 62, FRA and 70, couples coordinating spousal benefits, and people born near a cut-off date. FRA is 66 for people born 1943–1954, rises by two months a year for 1955–1959, and is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. If you were born on January 1, Social Security uses the previous year, because you legally attain each age the day before your birthday.
Percentages follow the Social Security regulations: claiming early cuts your own benefit by 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months before FRA and 5/12 of 1% for each extra month; spousal benefits are cut by 25/36 of 1% for the first 36 months. Delaying past FRA earns 2/3 of 1% a month (8% a year) for people born 1943 or later, up to age 70. Enter your PIA from your Social Security statement to see dollar amounts (before COLAs).
With the default inputs, the benefit at your claiming age (% of pia) is 70%. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the full retirement age calculator
- 1Enter your date of birth.
- 2Choose the age and months at which you might claim (62 to 70).
- 3Optionally enter your PIA from your Social Security statement.
- 4Read your FRA, the month you reach it and your benefit percentage.
- 5Use the table to compare every claiming age from 62 to 70.
Formula and method
Full retirement age comes from the regulation table for your year of birth, where January 1 birthdays count as the previous year. Your own retirement benefit is reduced by 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months you claim before FRA and by 5/12 of 1% for each additional month, so claiming at 62 with an FRA of 67 (60 months early) leaves 70% of your PIA.
Spousal benefits start at 50% of the worker’s PIA and are reduced by 25/36 of 1% for each of the first 36 months early plus 5/12 of 1% per extra month (32.5% at 62 for FRA 67). Waiting beyond FRA earns delayed retirement credits — 2/3 of 1% a month for people born 1943 or later — until age 70. The first month you can claim at 62 is the first month you are 62 for the whole month (people born on the 1st or 2nd qualify in their birthday month).
- m
- Number of months you claim before full retirement age
- PIA
- Primary insurance amount — your benefit at full retirement age
- FRA
- Full retirement age (66 to 67 for people born 1943 or later)
Worked examples
Born June 15, 1962, claiming at 62
Born in 1962, your FRA is 67, reached in June 2029. Claiming at 62 is 60 months early: 36 × 5/9% + 24 × 5/12% = 30% less, so a $2,000 PIA becomes $1,400. Waiting to 70 would earn 36 months × 2/3% = 24% extra.
Born March 10, 1957, delaying to 70
People born in 1957 reach FRA at 66 and 6 months (September 2023 here). Delaying 42 months to 70 earns 42 × 2/3% = 28% in credits, turning a $2,500 PIA into $3,200 a month. Claiming at 62 would have left 72.5%.
Born January 1, 1960, claiming at 66
A January 1, 1960 birthday counts as 1959, so FRA is 66 and 10 months (October 2026), not 67. Claiming at 66 is 10 months early: 10 × 5/9% = 5.56% less, or $1,700 of an $1,800 PIA.
Frequently asked questions
What is my full retirement age for Social Security?+
It is 66 if you were born 1943–1954, 66 and 2 months for 1955, 66 and 4 months for 1956, 66 and 6 months for 1957, 66 and 8 months for 1958, 66 and 10 months for 1959, and 67 if you were born in 1960 or later.
How much less do I get if I claim at 62?+
With an FRA of 67 you receive 70% of your full benefit at 62 (a 30% cut); with an FRA of 66 you receive 75%. The reduction is permanent, although benefits still rise with annual cost-of-living adjustments.
How much more do I get by waiting until 70?+
For anyone born in 1943 or later, each year of delay after FRA adds 8% (2/3 of 1% per month). With an FRA of 67 that is 124% of your PIA at 70; with an FRA of 66 it is 132%. There is no benefit to waiting past 70.
Why does a January 1 birthday change my FRA?+
Social Security considers you to attain an age on the day before your birthday. Someone born on January 1 therefore attains each age on December 31 of the previous year and uses the previous birth year’s FRA.
Is full retirement age the same for spousal benefits?+
Yes for spousal benefits, but the reduction for claiming early is steeper (25/36 of 1% per month for the first 36 months), and spousal benefits earn no delayed credits past FRA. Survivor benefits use a separate, slightly different FRA table.
Can I still work after claiming before my FRA?+
Yes, but the earnings test withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above an annual limit until the year you reach FRA. Withheld benefits are not lost: your benefit is recalculated upward at FRA.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.