404.409—What is full retirement age?
Full retirement age is the age at which you may receive unreduced old-age, wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's benefits. Full retirement age has been 65 but is being gradually raised to age 67 beginning with people born after January 1, 1938. See § 404.102 regarding determination of age.
(a) What is my full retirement age for old-age benefits or wife's or husband's benefits?
You may receive unreduced old-age, wife's, or husband's benefits beginning with the month you attain the age shown.
| If your birth date is: | Full retirement age is: |
|---|---|
| Before 1/2/1938 | 65 years. |
| 1/2/1938—1/1/1939 | 65 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1939—1/1/1940 | 65 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1940—1/1/1941 | 65 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1941—1/1/1942 | 65 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1942—1/1/1943 | 65 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1943—1/1/1955 | 66 years. |
| 1/2/1955—1/1/1956 | 66 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1956—1/1/1957 | 66 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1957—1/1/1958 | 66 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1958—1/1/1959 | 66 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1959—1/1/1960 | 66 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1960 and later | 67 years. |
(b) What is my full retirement age for widow's or widower's benefits?
You may receive unreduced widow's or widower's benefits beginning with the month you attain the age shown.
| If your birth date is: | Full retirement age is: |
|---|---|
| Before 1/2/1912 | 62 years. |
| 1/2/1912—1/1/1940 | 65 years. |
| 1/2/1940—1/1/1941 | 65 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1941—1/1/1942 | 65 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1942—1/1/1943 | 65 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1943—1/1/1944 | 65 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1944—1/1/1945 | 65 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1945—1/1/1957 | 66 years. |
| 1/2/1957—1/1/1958 | 66 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1958—1/1/1959 | 66 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1959—1/1/1960 | 66 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1960—1/1/1961 | 66 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1961—1/1/1962 | 66 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1962 and later | 67 years. |
(c) Can I still retire before full retirement age?
You may still elect early retirement. You may receive old-age, wife's or husband's benefits at age 62. You may receive widow's or widower's benefits at age 60. Those benefits will be reduced as explained in § 404.410.