The Full Retirement Age Moves to 67 for People Born in 1960 and Later

Starting in 2026, the full retirement age — the age at which you receive your complete Social Security benefit — reaches 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. This is the final step in a shift that began in 2003. If you were born in 1959 or earlier, your full retirement age is already set at 66 or lower and will not change.

Full retirement age matters because it determines when you can claim your full benefit without any reduction. If you claim before that age, your monthly payment is permanently smaller. If you claim after that age, your monthly payment grows by about 8 percent per year until age 70. The 2026 change means people born in 1960 will need to wait until 67 to hit that full-benefit mark, rather than 66 and 10 months.

This does not mean you cannot claim at 62 — you still can. It means the reduction for claiming early will be larger for people born in 1960 and later than it was for previous generations.

Key Takeaways

  • Full retirement age becomes 67 in 2026 for people born in 1960 or later, up from 66 and 10 months for those born in 1959.
  • You can still claim Social Security at 62, but the monthly payment will be reduced by a larger percentage than in previous years.
  • Waiting until 67 or later to claim means you receive your full benefit amount or a higher amount, depending on when you file.
  • The change affects when you become may be able to access for full Medicare benefits and when you stop facing the earnings test that can reduce benefits if you work.

How the Earnings Test Changes at Full Retirement Age

If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age and continue working, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above a yearly limit. In 2026, this limit is set to increase, though the exact amount depends on cost-of-living adjustments announced each October.

Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings test stops. You can earn as much as you want without any reduction to your benefit. For people born in 1960, this protection kicks in at 67 instead of 66 and 10 months, meaning they will face the earnings test for an extra 10 months if they claim at 62.

The earnings test applies only to wages from work and net self-employment income. It does not explore to investment income, pensions, or other retirement money.

Medicare may be able to access Stays at 65, Not Tied to Full Retirement Age

A common source of confusion: full retirement age and Medicare may be able to access are separate. You become may be able to access for Medicare at 65, regardless of your full retirement age. This does not change in 2026.

You can claim Social Security at 62 and wait until 65 to sign up for Medicare, or you can claim Social Security at 67 and sign up for Medicare at 65. The two programs operate on different timelines. If you do not sign up for Medicare when you turn 65, you may face a permanent penalty on your premiums, so the 65 milestone still matters even if your full retirement age is now 67.

Spousal and Survivor Benefits Also Shift

If you are may have access to to a spousal benefit — based on your spouse's or ex-spouse's work record — your full retirement age for that benefit is also 67 in 2026 if you were born in 1960 or later. The same reduction applies if you claim before full retirement age.

Survivor benefits follow the same pattern. If a family member dies and you are may have access to to a benefit on their record, your full retirement age for that benefit is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later. Children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school) can claim at any age, and a surviving spouse caring for a child under 16 can claim at any age, but other family members face the full retirement age requirement.

What This Means If You Were Born in 1960

If you turn 62 in 2024 or 2025, you can claim Social Security before 2026 arrives and lock in the earlier full retirement age rules. If you turn 62 in 2026 or later, you will face the 67 full retirement age.

The choice between claiming early and waiting is personal and depends on your health, family history, how long you plan to work, and whether you need the money now. Claiming at 62 gives you payments sooner but in smaller amounts. Waiting until 67 or 70 gives you larger monthly payments but means you receive nothing in the years you wait. There is no single "right" answer, and Social Security has a break-even calculator on its website if you want to compare scenarios.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments Still Happen Every Year

Separate from the full retirement age change, Social Security benefits increase each year based on inflation. In October 2025, Social Security will announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment, which will be applied to all benefits starting in January 2026. This adjustment affects everyone receiving benefits, regardless of age or when they claimed.

The adjustment amount varies year to year depending on inflation. It is not a fixed percentage, so you will not know the exact 2026 increase until the announcement in October 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still claim Social Security at 62 in 2026?

Yes. The earliest age to claim remains 62. The change in 2026 affects your full retirement age, which determines the size of the reduction if you claim early. People born in 1960 or later will see a larger reduction than previous generations if they claim at 62.

Does the full retirement age change affect people already receiving benefits?

No. If you are already collecting Social Security, the 2026 change does not affect your benefit amount or the rules you follow. The change applies only to people who have not yet claimed.

What if I was born in 1959 — does this affect me?

If you were born in 1959, your full retirement age is 66 and 10 months, and it will not change. The 2026 shift to age 67 applies only to people born in 1960 or later.

If I delay claiming until 70, how much more will I receive?

For each year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your benefit grows by about 8 percent per year. If your full retirement age is 67 and you wait until 70, your benefit would be roughly 24 percent higher than your full retirement age amount. The exact percentage depends on your birth month and the specific benefit calculation.

Does this change affect my spouse's benefits?

Yes, if your spouse is may have access to to a spousal benefit based on your work record and was born in 1960 or later, their full retirement age is also 67. They can still claim earlier, but the reduction will be larger than for previous generations.