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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Joan
A person born in 1952 can retire when? What age is full retirement?
Also can the person collect off of a ex spouses and if so what age?
Nicole
I have a question my mom is going to be 70 in April. My father passed away in 2004 he was receiving SSD. She was receiving SSD when my Dad passed does she receive more money now that she will be full retirement age?
Teresa G.
My husband passed in 2016, along with his death our income stopped. He was receiving Army Ret. and SS benefits. I am 56 years old with a low income now and want to know if I can start collecting his SS benefits when I reach 59 years old.
charles j.
i retired at 62 now i’m 66 can i reply to get my full retirement’
Carolyn h.
If I take my social security 1 year early what
percentage will be deducted from my original
benefits? I just turned 65 in January.
R.F.
Hi Carolyn. In the case of early retirement, a benefit is reduced 5/9 of one percent for each month before you attain your full retirement age, up to 36 months. This table illustrates the effect of early retirement, for both a retired worker and his/her spouse.
You can use our Retirement Estimator, or one of our other benefit calculators to plan for the future. Which calculator you choose depends on what you want do. In your case you may need to use our Early or Late Retirement Calculator. Happy planning!
Virginia S.
if you are receiving gross pay social security disability of 1919 per month what will it be when reach age 66 and it turns into retirement benefits Thank you
MISSLINDABARRACK
I started work at 15 ,was born in 1956 ,due to I’ll health I am now on Earning and support +personnel independent payment. Living in a retirement home with meals in Arbroath. What is my retirement age please.
R.F.
If you were born in 1956, your full retirement age is 66 and 4 months!
Mike
Hi…I was born in 1951, which means I hit full retirement age last year (2017). Yesterday, Jan 30, I started my application to receive SS benefits, but halfway through I thought….hey, if I wait just a few more months, I’ll be eligible for age 67 benefits, which is 8% more than age 66 benefits. So, my question is….am I “stuck” receiving age 66 benefits because I already started my application, or can I just wait a few months to FINISH the application process and get more money every month?…I’m probably not the only person who has thought of this, and I can’t find an answer anywhere on the SS.gov site. Thanks for all your answers on this site.
R.F.
Hello Mike, if you change your mind, you may be able to withdraw your Social Security claim and re-apply at a future date. However, you must do this within 12 months of your original retirement date. One of our agents can assist you in regards to your unfinished application. Please contact your 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!
Brenda J.
I started receiving Social Security benefits after I turned 67 years old in March, 2017. Birthdate 03/03/1951.
What is the gross maximum amount can I make on my job without being penalized. Does this total add my social security benefits I received to this figure?
Sue C.
I starting receiving SS Benefits at 62, I was married for over 10 years and never remarried. Am I correct that if I were to apply for benefits from my Exhusband that my SS benefit that I now receive would have to be less than the 50% of his current benefit. I’m assuming that the percentage of my SS Benefit from 62 to full retirement would enter into this also. If so what is the percentage?
Thanks
R.F.
You’re right, Sue. Your benefit as a divorced spouse can be equal to one-half of your ex-husband’s full retirement amount, only if you start receiving those 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. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits By Year Of Birth web page for information on the reduction percentages.
We hope this helps!