When is my full retirement age for Social Security?

If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age (FRA) is 67. For people born from 1955 to 1959, it phases up in two-month steps from 66 and 2 months to 66 and 10 months. FRA is the age at which you receive 100% of your PIA. You can start as early as 62, but each month before FRA permanently reduces your check — claiming at 62 with an FRA of 67 cuts your benefit by about 30%. You can also wait past FRA up to age 70 and earn delayed retirement credits that raise your benefit roughly 8% per year. FRA only sets the baseline; your actual decision should weigh health, other income, and a spouse's benefit. Model the trade-offs at wealthserene.com/tools/social-security-optimizer.