Social Security Full Retirement Age by Birth Year Explained
Watch on YouTube Your Social Security Full Retirement Age is not 65 — it depends on when you were born. This episode covers the complete FRA chart: 65 for pre-1938 births, 66 for 1943-1954, a sliding scale of 66 and 2 months up to 66 and 10 months for 1955-1959, and 67 for 1960 and later. We explain why months matter in the early-filing reduction formula, the little-known rule for people born on the first of the month, and why Medicare at 65 and Social Security FRA are two completely separate clocks. Full playlist: Social Security (US - 2026).
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📺 Full playlist: Social Security (US - 2026) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlIAFxS296491LWfYsLp6anRyo6_DO_pI
Chapters
Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) depends on the year you were born. Anyone born 1960 or later has an FRA of 67. The 1943-1954 group has an FRA of 66. The in-between years have a sliding scale with two-month increments most people have never heard of. Knowing your exact FRA to the month matters — because every month early or late changes the check.
Key Topics
- The original FRA of 65 and why the 1983 reforms raised it
- The sliding scale for 1955 through 1959 birth years
- Full 67 for birth years 1960 and after
- Why "months" matter — early filing reductions are computed in 1/180 and 1/240 fractions
- How SSA treats people born on the first of the month (you qualify one month earlier)
- FRA vs. Medicare eligibility age (65) — two different clocks
- Looking up your exact FRA on SSA.gov