For many years, 65 was the age at which you were able to retire and start taking full Social Security benefits, but a law passed in 1983 changed that for some beneficiaries. The full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security benefits rose this year under amendments to the program designed to stretch its funding.

As part of its review of a recent proposal, the Social Security actuaries provided another contribution to the extensive body of evidence showing that life expectancy is positively related to income and that the gap between those at the top and the bottom of the income distribution has increased over time.

If you're wondering why younger retirees have such smaller benefits, here's why: Each of us has a full retirement age at which we can start collecting the full Social Security benefits to which we're entitled, based on our earnings record. For most of us, that age is 66 or 67.

The Social Security retirement age increased in 2025. Find out what this means for you, how it affects your benefits, and the best time to claim Social Security.

As life expectancy increases, the Social Security retirement age is now 67, with potential for future increases.

You can claim Social Security beginning at 62, but doing so will permanently reduce how much your monthly benefit amount is. Even so, there's one key reason to claim Social Security at 62: Flexibility.

Considering that Social Security accounts for most (if not all) of many retirees’ income, it makes sense to learn as much about it as possible. But according to Nationwide Mutual Insurance, there are big knowledge gaps in Americans’ understanding of the federal program,

The US Congress passed a law in 1983, gradually increasing the full retirement age (FRA) from 65 to 67 to address rising life expectancy and financial strain on Social Security. As of this year, those born in 1960 or later must wait until they turn 67 to receive full benefits.