Claiming Rules
How is Full Retirement Age (FRA) Determined for Social Security?
Verified against SSA POMS as of September 24, 2026
The short answer
**Full Retirement Age (FRA)** is the age at which unreduced Social Security retirement, spouse's, or widow(er)'s benefits may be paid. FRA varies by birth year: starting at 65 for those born before 1/2/1938 and increasing incrementally to 67 for those born after 1/1/1960. For widow(er)'s benefits, FRA reaches 67 for those born after 1/1/1962. At FRA, the reduction for early benefits stops, the earnings test under FRA is no longer applied, and beneficiaries may voluntarily suspend benefits to earn delayed retirement credits (§ RS 00615.004).
Determining Full Retirement Age by Birth Year
Full Retirement Age (FRA) varies based on the year of birth. For individuals born before 1/2/1938, FRA is 65. For those born 1/2/1938 to 1/1/1960, FRA increases in increments, reaching 67 for those born after 1/1/1960. For widow(er)'s benefits, the FRA reaches 67 for those born after 1/1/1962 (RS 00615.004).
RS 00615.004 View source ›Impact of Reaching Full Retirement Age
At FRA, individuals are eligible for full Social Security benefits without reduction. The earnings test no longer applies once an individual reaches FRA. Additionally, beneficiaries can voluntarily suspend benefits to accumulate delayed retirement credits from FRA until age 70 (GN 02409.110).
GN 02409.110 View source ›Differences in FRA for Survivor Benefits
Survivor benefits have a different schedule for attaining FRA. For those born after 1/1/1962, widow(er)'s benefits reach FRA at age 67, distinct from retirement or spouse's benefits, which reach FRA at age 67 for those born after 1/1/1960 (RS 00615.004).
RS 00615.004 View source ›Common Misconceptions About FRA
A common misconception is that full retirement age is static for all beneficiaries, while in reality, it depends on the birth year. Additionally, it is often thought that FRA affects all benefit types the same way, which is false as different rules apply to retirement, spousal, and widow(er)'s benefits (RS 00615.004).
RS 00615.004 View source ›Voluntary Suspension and Delayed Benefits
Beneficiaries can opt to suspend their benefits upon reaching FRA to earn delayed retirement credits, increasing their benefits when resumed. This option, effective from FRA until age 70, allows beneficiaries to enhance their monthly benefit amount by delaying benefit receipt (GN 02409.110).
GN 02409.110 View source ›Worked example
Consider an individual born on 1/2/1943. According to the Full Retirement Age (FRA) schedule, their FRA for retirement and spouse's benefits is 66 years (RS 00615.003). This means they are eligible for full benefits without reduction starting at age 66.
Additionally, if this same individual were collecting widow(er)'s benefits, their FRA would still be 66, as the cutoff is for those born after 1/1/1962 (RS 00615.004).
By reaching FRA, they are no longer subject to the earnings test deductions, and they could voluntarily suspend their benefits to accrue delayed retirement credits, further increasing their future monthly benefit amount (GN 02409.110).
Frequently asked
What is my full retirement age if I was born in 1955?
If you were born in 1955, your Full Retirement Age for retirement and spouse's benefits is 66 years and 2 months (RS 00615.003).
Can I suspend my Social Security benefits to increase them later?
Yes, you can voluntarily suspend your benefits once you reach Full Retirement Age to earn delayed retirement credits until you are 70 (GN 02409.110).
Does Full Retirement Age affect all Social Security benefits the same?
No, Full Retirement Age varies for retirement, spousal, and widow(er)'s benefits based on different birth year criteria (RS 00615.004).
Does the earnings test still apply after reaching Full Retirement Age?
No, the earnings test no longer applies once you reach Full Retirement Age (RS 02510.026).
How is the reduction factor adjusted at FRA?
The reduction factor is automatically adjusted at FRA by eliminating certain deduction months, affecting the benefit payable (RS 00615.480).