Retirement

2017 Brings New Changes to Full Retirement Age

January 6, 2017 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

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. Patty B.

    I took early retirement of 62 and I have continued to work part-time. In February 2017 I will reach my full retirement age of 66, will my benefits increase since I have continued to work?

    • Ray F.

      Thank you for your question Patty. Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase monthly benefits. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to compute your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. If an increase is due, a new monthly benefit amount is established on your record automatically. See our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working for more information:

  2. Liliana

    I am 61, was married for 15 years and am now divorced for 20 years. I’m still working for the past 30 years and have my own SS. My ex husband is 63 and is collecting on his social security. Can I collect part of his SS now and wait until I am 66 to collect my own?

    • Ray F.

      Thank you for your question Liliana. If you turn age 62 on or after January 2, 2016, you are required or “deemed” to file for both your own retirement and for any benefits you are due as a spouse, no matter what age you are. If you file for one benefit, you will be effectively filing for all retirement or spousal benefits. Please visit our “Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced” for more information.

  3. Porfirio

    It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Kay

    When can I draw on my living spouses social security earnings record and let my set? We have been married for 30+ years, I will be 62 soon. I’d like to leave mine and draw on his. How does that work?

    • S T.

      A living spouse must be getting benefits for spousal benefits to be paid. You can draw on his record when he does.

    • Ray F.

      Thank you for your question Kay. You may be able to get spouse’s retirement benefits if you are at least 62 years of age and your spouse is receiving retirement or disability benefits. Under existing law, if you are eligible for benefits both as a retired worker and as a spouse (or divorced spouse) in the first month you want your benefits to begin and are not yet full retirement age, you must apply for both benefits. You will receive the higher of the two benefits. This requirement is called “deemed filing” because when you apply for one benefit you are “deemed” to have also applied for the other. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.

  5. Gloria f.

    I was born on 12/1957. I am entitled to retire as early as 60 years old. It is very difficult to find jobs at this age. I have survivors benefits that belongs to my husband that died about 10 years ago, but the money I was expecting is so reduced.

  6. Ben S.

    I will born April 27, 1951, and will be full retirement age of 66 this April 27. For SS purposes, do I reach full retirement on April 1, 2017, or not until April 27. Should I begin benefits on April 1, 2017, or May 1, 2017?

    • Ray F.

      Thank you for your question Ben. You will attain your full retirement age, on April 1st. 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 April, you will receive your first benefit payment in May. Please visit our Social Security Retirement Planner for more information.

  7. S T.

    Instead of automatically converting from SSDI to retirement benefits at FRA, can the beneficiary suspend retirement benefits to age 70 and then get a greater monthly amount at the later age? (I asked this question in March 2016 but did not get an answer!)

    • Ray F.

      We are sorry if we missed your question before. Please keep in mind that your disability payments are established at the highest rate possible. You may be eligible to switch from disability to retirement benefits, the rules can be complicated and you will need to speak to one of our representatives at 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. Thank you.

      • S T.

        At Full Retirement Age, disability benefits end automatically and retirement benefits are paid instead. The switch is not an option, but a requirement. What I want to know is if, at that point, a former SSDI recipient can ask for suspension of benefits to age 70 and resume retirement benefits at a higher monthly amount at age 70.

        • Ray F.

          Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. We recommend that you speak with one of our representatives directly. Call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office directly. Thanks!

        • Burt

          Yes, one who is on SSDI can voluntarily suspend benefits at age 66 and get DRC for 4 yrs and then get a 32% higher amount at age 70.

  8. K.E.B.

    How is it that – despite drawing social security retirement early since age 62 – that now in Jan 2017, my Social Security account online shows “you are not currently receiving benefits” ? What caused this?
    Naturally, the offices are closed.

    • Ray F.

      We are sorry you are having issues with your account. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions to read information on why you may be having trouble accessing your account. Also, we have established a dedicated MySocialSecurity Hotline. To reach this hotline, call 1-800-772-1213, and select the prompt “For help with registering or using the MySocialSecurity website”. The help desk will be available to callers between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). You will generally have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.

  9. Karla R.

    My husband is retired, 68, and collecting SS from age 65. I am 60, still working and just looked at the chart on benefits upon my retirement. Did I read it right?? It says that I, as a spouse, will have my SS reduced to 35.4%???? OR do I look at the wage earner col where it says I can collect 75.8% if I retire at 62 and 6 months??

    • Ray F.

      Hi Karla. If you were born in 1957, at 62 + 6 months, the reductions are: 75.8% for the wage earner and 35.4% for the spouse. This chart lists age 62 reduction amounts and includes examples based on an estimated monthly benefit of $1000 at full retirement age. Click on your year of birth to find out how much your benefit will be reduced if you retire between age 62 and full retirement age. We hope this helps.

  10. Sandra k.

    I was born Jan. 3, 1947 and retired at age 66 and started collecting my social security benefits. I started working again in 2015 and have continued to do so. I had my taxes done by H&R Block this year due to my employer having me enroll in a HSA of $200, which I now understand has a new form. I was also penalized on my Social Security for making $19,455 in earnings. It was my understanding at my retirement age of 66 I could make as much as I wanted and not be penalized on my social security. I still pay into my social security which I know is required.why would 10% of my social security be taxable income.

Comments are closed.