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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thelma w.
why was my ssa cut for the last 2 mo I don’t under stane can some one tell me why
R.F.
Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to one of our agents. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Jeffery M.
I will be 65 in march I lost my job not of anything I did also I fell out of a loader while getting out, I have familial tremmors and falling has messed my neck up my shoulders are worn out and the fall has caused problems with my hips where I work would do nothing for me, My son has had cancer 5 times plus other problems my daughter also had cancer. Im on unemployment will loose it next month need an mri but cant afford it. would like to get disability cant find a job now I shake real bad, cant get any help please at least tell me something
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us, Jeffery. Disability Benefits are paid to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or to result in death. If you think you are disabled under our rules, you can apply for disability benefits online. Visit our “Frequently Asked Questions” web page on disability for more information. Please call us at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Or contact your local office for further assistance. Thanks.
joan
I have been on disabiltiy since 1993. I couldn’t work and i only get 501.00 a month. Obama never gave us a yearly increase. Now we get a 2.0% increase. Which brings me up to 619.00. Then Social security deducts 118.00.Brings me back to 501.00 no raise. Being sick and not able to work this is a small amount to live on. How can anyone live on this.
R.F.
Hi Joan. You may be eligible to receive assistance from the state where you live. Medicare enrollees who have limited income and resources may get help paying for their premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses through the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP). Please call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 1-800-633-4227 for more information. We hope this information is helpful.
ELNORA R.
what happens to my social security benefits after age 70. will it continue till death?
R.F.
Thank you for your question Elnora. Your Social Security retirement benefits end upon death. If a person dies and there are no eligible survivors, any unused money goes to the Social Security trust funds.
ann r.
I just learned that SSA counts 10 months towards my retirement – 8 good years and 2 bad years. Unfortunately although I never collected disability for my Bipolar illness – it was difficult to treat as the doctors misdiagnosed and did not understand how to talk to patients to explain and help them – I made $288 one of the two years. I was too incapacited to work full time – a symptom of the illness. That year is counted and the fullness of my last 17 years are ignored.
My SSA will not allow me to reduce hours of work sufficiently to have time to deal with arthritis, pay my bills, or remain in my home in the great state of California.
Does it make sense to punish someone who did not use disability checks, lost quite a few years living close to the poverty line to take care of children and myself? Is there an answer?
My question is why and if there is any answer for ones who worked hard to benefit late from returning to work. – a treatment in itself
R.F.
Hi Ann. For retirement benefits, we use the individual’s highest 35 years of earnings to compute monthly benefit amount. See more at our Retirement Planner. Thanks!
Robert M.
Hi, I am currently receiving social security disability payments. What happens when I reach full retirement age? For me that’s 66 and 10 months.
Is my disability stopped and my social security retirement started or does something else happen? I don’t seem to find the information anywhere on the website.
Thanks for your reply.
R.F.
Hi Robert. When you receive disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, we will automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits, when you attain your full retirement age. Benefits are not interrupted with this transition and the benefit amount will generally remains the same. Thanks!
Faustino E.
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Eugene L.
I have received benefits since retiring in 2011, but have continued to work a part-time job. Overpayments reconciliation have become a hazard each year and I continue to be painstakingly faithful to the process. Now that I have reached full retirement age, I am entitled by policy to have my benefits reviewed so that I may recoup prior financial losses and recalculate my actual, earned benefit. For some reason that has not happened yet and it has been about six months since I turned 66 years old. And now my usual SSA website, with all the same information as always is giving me a headache while trying to access relevant information. Can anyone in your administration give me some meaningful feedback about where I stand and what to do next?
R.F.
You’re right, Eugene! After you reach full retirement age, we will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for any months in which you did not receive a benefit because of your earnings. Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if an increase is due. Generally, we send a notice to the beneficiary alerting them of any adjustment on their record. You can contact us and request a review of your records. Please 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.
John
hi I just turned 61 years old now and my benefit will be $1460 if i retire at 62 what would it be if i stopped working right now. What would the payment be at 62 years old.
Thanks
John
Shirley B.
Hello. I would like to if you can help me to get benefits switched from my deceased husband’s social security number to my own if, that would increase the benefit amount.
My Medicare deductions are high because I am very near depleting my retirement so it looks like I have a good income.
There are 5 people in living with me. Plus I help my daughter every month with her utilities; phone, ComEd, internet at her home ($500.00 p/m) She works partime with a college student and a 7 year old. She was fulltime before her last child was born but now they won’t allow her to return, in fact they say are laying off.
It takes $3,850 per month to run this (MY) house and that just house note and utilities.
Three adults need better income which is why all the expenses are on me with no help. Now I am losing my house because I can no longer afford it and all that goes with it, (repairs for heating, cooling, plumbing and now I need a new washer and refrigerator)
By the way my transportation, meds, credit cards, vacations (if any) and groceries are not included.
I can’t afford ANY deductions and mine are pretty stiff.