Retirement

2017 Brings New Changes to Full Retirement Age

January 6, 2017 • By

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Last Updated: August 19, 2021

3 elderly people siting on a stoopEvery 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Your monthly benefits are reduced permanently if you start them any time before full retirement age.
  3. 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.
  4. 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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About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

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Comments

  1. Sol K.

    My spouse is eligible for Medicare premium free part A , based on my work . I turn 62 this month . When should he apply for Medicare A – premium free ?
    What form should we use if we want to apply online ?
    Thanks

    • R.F.

      Thank you for your question Sol. Individuals should sign up for Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A) 3 months before their 65th birthday. However, in his case, there may be restrictions to apply online, and the system may not accept uninsured Medicare-only claims. If your husband cannot apply online or decides not to finish applying online, for whatever reason, he can apply in person at any Social Security office or by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

  2. Susan

    I won’t reach full retirement age until 2033 and have a full-time job that I intend to work at until then. My husband doesn’t work at all and will be 62 in 2023. My thought is to have him start receiving early retirement, even though it will be a reduced amount, so that it will supplement my income and we can pay down or pay off any remaining debt. Is this sound thinking? Are there other considerations I should be aware of?

    • R.F.

      Hi Susan. Current law provides, that if your husband never worked under Social Security and is not ensured on his own work record, he may be able to get spouse’s benefits on your record (at age 62), if you are receiving retirement or disability benefits. See our “Retirement Planner: Benefits For Your Spouse” for more information.

  3. Michelle

    I was born in 1954. I’m 63 years old. My husband will be 66 this Feb. If I take my SS now at it’s reduced amount, can I upgrade to what “half” of my husband’s is once I hit my full retirement age at 66? Or is I take it now will I be forever stuck with my reduced amount? My full amount if I wait will be 700.00 per month. Half of my husbands for me would be 900.00 per month. Right now my SS would only be around 475.00 per month. Lastly no matter what I end up doing…if heaven forbid my husband passes before me will I still get ALL of his social security? Help!

    • R.F.

      Hi Michelle. The benefit you can receive as a spouse, can only be equal to one-half of your husband’s full retirement amount, if you start receiving benefits at your full retirement age. If a person begins to receive Social Security benefits prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. These reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits the person may qualify for. Generally, survivor’s benefits are paid at a higher rate. However, the monthly amount you would get is a percentage of the deceased’s basic Social Security benefit. Please visit our Survivors Planner for more information. We hope this information helps.

  4. Ellen F.

    What are the changes for using spousal benefits and delaying your own benefits to a future time? Does the spouse have to be actually retired or just at full retirement age?

    • R.F.

      Hi Ellen. See “What do the Recent Social Security Claiming Changes Mean for Me” for more information on the changes of the new law. If you have further questions please contact the local Social Security office or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.

  5. Bev S.

    Can I collect my social security benefits if I’m already collecting my deceased husbands benefits. I’m 70 years old.

    • R.F.

      Hi Bev. In many cases, a widow can begin receiving one benefit at a reduced rate and then, at full retirement age (or later), switch to the other benefit at an unreduced rate. This assuming that she is eligible for retirement benefits and that her retirement benefit rate is higher than the rate as a widow. You will need to contact your local office, or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213, for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!

  6. Murphy

    I will turn 66 in July 13th. I plan to file/suspend- restrict my application to Spousal benefits ( until I turn 70; spouse filed and suspended to accrue the special credits until he is 70 next year.) So I don’t mess myself up do I need to wait until July or my actual birthdate to apply; or can I do it now but request benefits begin when I reach FRA?

    • R.F.

      Hi Murphy, and thank you for your question. Our system is set up to take applications three months in advance, you can apply for your benefits online at any time now. Remember that benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, for instance, if you want your benefits to begin with the month of July, you will receive your first benefit payment in August. If you need further assistance call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with one of our representatives. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. We hope this helps!

  7. Chris

    I was born 1952 so when I turn 66 I can start collecting SS. My husband is 72 and collects his full amount which is more than mine would be. Do I get his amount and let mine earn more by age 70? Do I apply for the spousal amount as the new law affects those born 1954 and after? Is that correct?
    Thank you

  8. sandra b.

    i will love to share my testimony to you all the people in world.am sandra

    barfinder from England,i got married to my husband about 2 year ago we

    start having problems at home like we stop sleeping on the same

    bed,fighting about little things he always comes home late at

    night,drinking too much and sleeping with other women out side.i have never

    love any man in my life except him.he is the father of my child and i don’t

    want to loose him because we have worked so hard together to become what we

    are and have today.few month ago he now decided to live me and the

    kid,being a single mother can be hard sometimes and so i have nobody to
    turn to and i was heart broken.i called my mom and explain every thing to

    her,my mother told me about Dr SAHARAJA SID how he helped her solve the

    problem between her and my dad i was surprise about it because they have

    been without each other for three and a half years and it was like a

    miracle how they came back to each other.i was directed to Dr SHARAJA SID

    on his email:sharajasid@gmail.com
    and explain everything to him,so he promise me not to worry that he will

    cast a spell and make things come back to how we where so much in love

    again and that it was another female spirit that was controlling my

    husband.he told me that my problem will be solved within two days if i

    believe i said OK.So he cast a spell for me and after two days my love came

    back asking me to forgive him.i Am so happy now. so that why i decided to

    share my experience with every body that have such problem contact Dr

    relief the great spell caster on his email address: sharajasid@gmail.com or

  9. ME

    I am 48. My ex husband died over a year ago. We were married more than 10 years. Is there any way I can start collecting SS survivor benefits now?

    • R.F.

      Under current law, if your marriage lasted 10 years or more, and you’re the surviving divorced spouse of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you could get benefits just the same as a widow. A widow can start receiving reduced benefits as early as age 60. Visit our “Survivors Planner: If You’re The Worker’s Surviving Divorced Spouse” for more information.

  10. Barbara C.

    Hi: I am 60 years old will be 61 in June. I am trying to figure out can I collect SS under my husband even if I have enough credits to collect on my own as I have not worked much and men will be very little as I stayed home taking care of children but I do have enough credits to collect on my own but his is so much more then mine. I will start collecting in June 2018. Hope you can help me. Barb

    • R.F.

      Thank you for your question Barbara. If you do have enough credits to qualify for your own Social Security benefits and you apply for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Click here to see an example. Also, visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.

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