2017 Brings New Changes to Full Retirement Age
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Every worker’s dream is to enjoy a secure retirement. Social Security is here to secure today and tomorrow. Part of that commitment is ensuring you have the most up-to-date information when you make your retirement decisions.
As the bells ring in the New Year, they also bring changes for new Social Security retirement beneficiaries. Full retirement age is 66 and two months for people born 01/02/1955 through 01/01/1956. They are eligible to receive permanently reduced retirement benefits when they turn 62 in 2017.
Full retirement age is the age at which a person first becomes entitled to full (unreduced) retirement benefits. It had been 65 for many years. However, beginning with people born in 1938 that age has been gradually increasing until it reaches 67 for people born in 1960 and later.
As the full retirement age continues to increase, there are greater reductions in benefits if you claim them before you reach full retirement age. For example, if you apply for benefits in 2017 at age 62, your monthly benefit amount will be reduced nearly 26 percent.
You can find your full retirement age, along with other important information, on our website.
Some things you must remember when you’re thinking about retirement:
- You may start receiving Social Security benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. The longer you wait, the higher your monthly benefit will be.
- Your monthly benefits are reduced permanently if you start them any time before full retirement age.
- If you die, your retirement date can affect the payment to your surviving widow or widower. If you started receiving retirement benefits before full retirement age, we cannot pay your surviving spouse their full retirement age benefit amount. We base their benefit on the amount of your reduced benefits.
- If you elect to receive benefits before you reach full retirement age, you should understand how continuing to work affects your benefits.
You can learn more by reading our publication, When to Start Receiving Benefits or visiting our Retirement Planner.
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Tags: full retirement age, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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Vickie K.
I just received a letter stating that since I have reached full retirement age now and will no longer be entitled to disability benefits, that I have been drawing for 8 years and will now start drawing retirement benefits. The amount they are saying I will receive each month is the same amount I have been drawing after they take out for my Medicare and Prescription Insurance Plan. Will these two deductions already be taken out before I receive that amount?
R.F.
Hi Vickie. That’s right, for those individuals receiving disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, we automatically convert their disability benefits to retirement benefits when they attain their Full Retirement Age. Generally, the benefit amount remains the same. We will continue to make deductions for Medicare Part B premiums. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 if you have additional questions. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Robert M.
I am disabled right now and have been since 2009.i will turn 66 on may 12 2017 .i was born 5-12-1951- SSA will switch me from disabled to retired will i get full or reduced benifits? Also is it true that at retirement i will get 2360 per month as i am married and my wife is disabled and she is no where near retirement age as she is 36. I seen that mr Trump will increase married couples to 2360 per month.true or not.
Rachel L.
I began collecting Social Security Disability in 2010, at the age of 49. I had been widowed one year before in 2009. My late husband was 48 when he died. I collect both survivors benefits and disability. My survivor benefit is the higher of the two, as my late husband was the bigger earner. When I reach full retirement age (66? 67?) it is my understanding that the disability “converts” to retirement benefit. It is also my understanding that I will no longer be entitled to collect both, but that I can collect the higher of the two. Is this correct? And, if so, does the conversion to the retirement benefit, using the HIGHER of the two benefits occur automatically or will I need to inform SSA of my preference regarding which benefit I will collect?
Frances B.
Since I am working until I retire in January 2018 and I reach FRA in April 2017, will there be a deduction from my benefits for January – March 2017? And since there is no limit beginning April 1, 2017 when I reach FRA, do I still need to add my SS benefits to my income when I file 2017 taxes?
Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Frances. When you apply for retirement and continue working, your earnings may affect the amount you receive. Check out our publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, for more information. Also, you will have to pay Federal taxes on your Social Security benefits if you file a Federal tax return as an individual and your total income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you will have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a total income of more than $32,000. You may also find our Frequently Asked Questions useful. Thanks!
J C.
I will be FRA 66 in August 2018. Everything I’ve read says I can file and collect my SS benefit in January 2018 with only the excess over approx. $44,000 (2017 exclusion amount) deducted at the 1 for 3 rate. Am I reading the SS documents correctly? I’m expecting to be able collect my SS 7 months early at a slightly reduced rate.
Brenda
I will be full retirement age of 66 in November. I plan to continue working full time. My question is can I draw my social security then and when I reach 70 can I switch to my ex spouse at 100% since I was married more than 10 years?
Michael J.
How old can I be and still increase “Annual Social Security Income?
Michael J.
How old can I be and still increase Social Security Annual income?
J.Y.
Thank you for your question, Michael. Work credits never expire. Your work credits stay on your record when you stop working and paying Social Security taxes. If you return to work later on, you can add more credits to your record. Thanks!
Frances B.
I will born April 30, 1951, and will be full retirement age of 66 this April 30. For SS purposes, do I reach full retirement on April 1, 2017, or not until April 30. Should I begin benefits on April 1, 2017, or May 1, 2017? If I apply for benefits now, will it revert to the benefits payable at 62 or will I get the benefits for FRA of 66?
J.Y.
Great questions! If your full retirement age is 66 and you turn 66 on April 30, 2017 you will attain your full retirement age on April 1, 2017. You need to make a decision about when to apply for benefits based on your individual and family circumstances. Keep in mind each person’s situation is different. For information about what you should consider please visit our Retirement Planner webpage. For more information about when to start your retirement benefits, visit our helpful Fact Sheet “When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits.”
We pay benefits in the month following the month they are due. So if you begin your benefits in April 1, 2017, you would receive your first check on May 1, 2017. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement!
Frances B.
Thank you. One more question. Since I am working until I retire in January 2018 and I reach FRA in April 2017, will there be a deduction from my benefits for January – March 2017? And since there is no limit beginning April 1, 2017 when I reach FRA, do I still need to add my SS benefits to my income when I file 2017 taxes?
Thank you
Jane
Hello; I born in 1962 and my husband in 1956. He worked in USA but his Recent calculation for social security income is 770 at age 60. At the time of retirement my payment will be around $2000. Because his income is low can he get half of my SSI ? So it means at age 67 I get 1000 and he gets 1770?
Could you please help me.
Thanks;
Jane
R.F.
Hi Jane. Keep in mind that the earliest individuals can start receiving reduced retirement or spouse’s benefits is age 62. Also, the spouse’s benefit your husband can receive on your record can be one-half of your full retirement amount, ONLY if he applies at his full retirement age. If he was born in 1956, his full retirement age is 66 and 4 months. Furthermore, if your husband qualifies on his own record, we will pay that amount first. If he –later- becomes eligible for a higher benefit amount on your record, he will get an additional amount on your record, so that the combination of benefits equals that higher amount. By the way if you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. We hope this information provides some clarity. Please visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For Your Spouse web page for more information.