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Changes to Social Security Full Retirement Benefits Age

A person can begin to collect their Social Security retirement benefits starting at 62 years old. But if they want to full amount, they have to wait until they are 66 years old. This has been the case for many decades. However, there are some slight changes this year.

The full retirement age for those born between 1943 and 1954 will be 66 in 2025, but those born after that will have to wait a little longer.

The full retirement age for those born in 1955 will be 66 and two months, while that of those born in 1956 will be 66 and four months.

The full retirement age for those born in 1957 will now be 66 years and six months, while full payments will be paid to 1958 babies at 66 years and eight months.

Finally, people born in 1959 can start getting full Social Security checks at age 66 and ten months, and people born in 1960 can start getting full retirement benefits at age 67.

People who were born in the first four months of 1958 or in the second half of 1957 reached full retirement age in 2024 under the new rules.

The full retirement age for people born in the last eight months of 1958 will be reached this year. Those born in the first two months of 1959 will reach full retirement age near the end of the year.

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, commented on these small changes by saying: “Years ago, Congress established a system for tabulating the full retirement age for Social Security recipients that involved incrementally moving up that qualifying age by two months for each successive birth year.

He went on to say: “This means the exact month you’ll be able to qualify for benefits at the full retirement age is linked to the year you were born. The misperception here is the belief Congress is currently raising the age for qualifying for Social Security benefits, and that isn’t the case.

“You can still have access to those benefits starting at age 62. This increase is only for those willing to wait to draw their benefits at their full retirement age and receive a higher payment.”

Seniors will not receive their full Social Security benefits if they choose to apply for them before they reach retirement age. On the other hand, the amount will rise annually until the age of 70 for those who wait until after they reach full retirement age.

Additionally, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has been revised to 2.5 percent for 2025. The average monthly payment will rise from $1,927 to $1,976 as a result.