Many seniors get confused with the term Full Retirement Age when they plan to retire. Almost every senior in the United States is enrolled in the Social Security benefits program, and they receive their monthly payment. The monthly payments depend on their working status and also on their contribution toward social security during their working years.
There has been a conception going on for years to retire at the age of 60. And therefore, many seniors start their retirement planning around that time. But if they want to receive their full benefits from Social Security, then the planning should be a little different. Although the minimum age of claiming the social security benefit is 62 years but to receive the full benefits, one has to reach their Full Retirement Age.
Now, not everyone has the same FRA; it depends on an individual’s birth year. Many believe that the FRA is either 65 or 67 for all, but it is not entirely true. For example, those people who are born in 1959, the official FRA declared by the SSA is 66 years and 10 months. So, for those people who are planning to retire in 2025 and also receive their Full benefits, they need to be 66 and 10 months old.
Exact Full Retirement Age for Social Security in August 2025
The SSA has, for some time now, started to increase the FRA over the years due to some reasons and concerns. Like in 2025, the FRA, which was earlier 65 years old, has been increased to 67 years old for those people who are born after the year 1937.
For a decade now, the number 65 has become a universal age for retirement, and seniors who were coming to that age planned their finances accordingly. Now the sudden change has caused much trouble as people now have to work more, even in their deteriorating health, and plan their finances more carefully.
This article will explain the concept of the FRA for receiving social security benefits and also guide you through how one can receive the full benefits at retirement age. Also, the article will let you know how the calculation is done and what the benefit of waiting up to your FRA is. Read the article till the end to make a smart retirement plan.
FRA for Social Security 2025- Overview
| Article on | FRA for Social Security 2025 |
| Country | USA |
| Department | SSA |
| Beneficiary | Senior Citizens, Disabled, Retirees, Widows |
| Amount | According to Annual Income and Assets |
| Category | Government Aid |
| FRA for people retiring in 2025 | 66 years and 10 months |
| Payment Date | According to the Date of Birth |
| Official website | ssa.gov |
What is the meaning of Full Retirement Age?
The FRA is an age determined by the Social Security Administration, which enables a person to receive 100% benefits from the Social Security program. Earlier, the FRA was set at 65, but after the current changes and policies in the benefits program of the SSA, the FRA ranges between the years of 66 and 67. Now this change has worried millions of Americans who were planning their retirement in the upcoming years.
As the policies have now been changed, it is very crucial for an individual to know what exactly their FRA is. Because if someone claims their benefits before the FRA, then there will be deductions in the amount, and they would receive the same deducted amount for all their remaining years. For example, if a person’s FRA is 66 years, but he claims the benefits at only 62, then the amount they will receive will have a 30% cut. This would lead to loss of thousands of dollars that they could have been receiving if they had waited up to their FRA.
Why does the age and time of your retirement matter?
As we have already discussed, how the amount will be deducted if a person claims the benefits before reaching their FRA, but with that, the timing of the retirement also matters. If a person is doing financially well and has enough savings that can fend them and their family in the remaining years, they can surely claim before. No one wants to work for excessive years.
But if an individual is financially vulnerable and the savings that they have them is not enough for their old age, they should definitely wait to reach their FRA. And if they want to earn more than their full benefits, then they will need to wait a little longer. As every delay of one year past the FRA, there will be an 8% increase in the monthly payment. The maximum age till which a person can delay is 70 years, and they will be getting the highest possible monthly benefit from the SSA.
This extra money will always be beneficial as inflation is increasing day by day, and the daily expenses are also getting higher. It will offer peace of mind during retirement ages.
Process of Finding Your Exact FRA
If you are not sure what is or will be your FRA is, there is no worry; everything is available at the official website of the Social Security Administration. Mistiming and early claiming of the benefit can cost thousands of dollars to a beneficiary. So, waiting a few more years can improve your monthly benefits for your entire life.
Follow the steps below to find your FRA
- Go to the official website of the SSA
- Then find the FRA calculator
- If you want personalized data, create an account or log in if you already have an account in My Social Security.
- Use the tool and run what-if scenarios so you can make the perfect retirement plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a person is planning to retire this current year, then what age should they be to receive the full amount of social security benefits?
66 years and 10 months. And if they are born in July 1959, then the full amount will be received in May 2026.
How much will be the increase in the monthly benefits if someone delays their FRA?
There would be 8% increase for every delayed year.
