Not 65, not 67: This is the exact full Neither 65 nor 67 retirement age for Social Security in July 2025 As the Social Security Administration (SSA) adapts to demographic and financial challenges, an important change in 2025 is drawing attention: The actual full retirement age (FRA) may not be 65 or 67, as commonly believed. For millions of Americans—especially those born in 1959—this detail could affect how much they receive in a monthly retirement check.
Let’s break it down: If you’re planning to retire soon, the most important number may surprise you.
What is full retirement age (FRA)? Neither 65 nor 67
Full retirement age (FRA) is the age when you become eligible to receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefits. Claiming early reduces monthly payments, while delaying increases your benefit through a process called delayed retirement credits.
Originally, the FRA was 65, but it is being gradually increased for people born after 1937. These changes are part of a long-term reform aimed at ensuring that Social Security remains financially sustainable as Americans live longer and retire in greater numbers.
Exact FRA for People Born in 1958, 1959, and 1960
| Year of Birth | Full Retirement Age |
|---|---|
| 1958 | 66 years and 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 years and 10 months |
| 1960 or later | 67 years |
So, if your birthdate is July 1959, your FRA is May 2026, not 65 or even 67. Knowing this can help you make a smarter financial decision.
Why FRA is so important
- If you start receiving Social Security before you reach FRA, your monthly benefits are permanently reduced. For example:
- Let’s say your FRA is 66 years and 10 months, and you decide to retire at age 62.
- Your benefits could be reduced by up to 30%—and this reduction is permanent.
What happens if you delay claiming Social Security?
There are several benefits to delaying benefits after FRA. For each year you wait after FRA (until age 70), your Social Security benefit increases by 8% annually.
- FRA benefit at age 66 and in 10 years: $2,000/month
- If you wait until age 70: $2,640/month (that’s a 32% increase)
- That’s an extra $640 per month, or $7,680 per year—a big benefit for those who are worried about outliving their retirement savings.
How to Find Your Exact FRA
- Don’t know what your personal FRA is? Here’s how to find it out:
- Create a “My Social Security” account: Get personalized benefit estimates and alerts.
- Use SSA’s retirement tools: Use “what if” scenarios based on your age and retirement plans.
- Knowing your exact month and year can help avoid costly mistakes.
Why it matters more than ever in 2025
As of July 2025, many Americans are still planning based on outdated assumptions—that everyone’s FRA is 65 or 67. But that’s no longer true. If you guess wrong, you could lose thousands of dollars in lifetime benefits.
Understanding your birth year’s FRA is one of the smartest steps you can take for your financial future.
- Pro tip: Don’t rush retirement decisions
- Are you planning to retire soon? Ask yourself:
- Can I delay benefits for a few more months or years?
How will early retirement affect my spousal benefits?
Am I using SSA’s tools to get the most information possible?
A few months of patience could translate into thousands in additional benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions – Social Security FRA Changes in 2025
Question 1. What is the full retirement age for someone born in 1959?
Answer: It’s 66 years and 10 months. If you were born in July 1959, your FRA is May 2026.
Question 2. What happens if I claim Social Security before my FRA?
Answer: Your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced, possibly by as much as 30%.
Question 3. Is it worth waiting to claim benefits after FRA?
Answer: Yes! You’ll receive an 8% increase for each year you wait, until age 70.
Question 4. Why is the FRA increasing over time?
Answer: To reflect longer life expectancy and reduce pressure on the Social Security trust fund.
Question 5. How can I see my individual FRA and benefit estimate?
Answer: Go to ssa.gov and log in or create your My Social Security account.
Social Security in July 2025: Retirement age, maximum benefits and key tax limits explained
As we enter the second half of 2025, Social Security remains a vital pillar of retirement income for millions of Americans. Yet, many retirees and future claimants are still unclear about full retirement age, maximum Social Security benefits, and how much they can get in benefits at age 62 or as a couple.
This article answers the most frequently searched questions, such as:
What is the retirement age for Social Security in July 2025?
What is the maximum benefit you can get at age 62, or at full retirement?
How much is the maximum Social Security tax in 2025?
And finally, how to use the maximum benefit calculator to estimate your payout
🇮🇳Is there a Social Security retirement age limit in India? Neither 65 nor 67
Before moving on to the US figures, a brief clarification for Indian readers: India does not have a Social Security system like the US.
India uses various retirement benefit schemes like the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), National Pension System (NPS) and government pension schemes. The typical retirement age in most public sector jobs in India is 58-60 years.
Now, for US readers, here is the updated information for the period July 2025 and beyond.
Social Security Full Retirement Age (FRA) – Chart Updated for July 2025
| Year of Birth | Full Retirement Age (FRA) |
|---|---|
| 1957 | 66 years, 6 months |
| 1958 | 66 years, 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 years, 10 months |
| 1960 or later | 67 years |
So, if you were born in July 1959, you reach full retirement in May 2026. Not 65. Not 67. It’s 66 years and 10 months.
Maximum Social Security benefits in 2025: by age
Maximum benefit at age 62 in 2025 If you start claiming Social Security at age 62 in 2025—the earliest you can—you’ll receive lower benefits. Maximum monthly benefit at age 62 (2025): $2,710 This is about 30% less than the benefit you’d get at full retirement age.
Maximum benefit at full retirement age (FRA) in 2025
If you wait until your FRA (66 years 10 months, or 67 years), you can get the full amount.
Maximum monthly benefit at FRA in 2025: $3,822 Maximum benefit at age 70 If you delay claiming until age 70, you get an additional benefit. Maximum monthly benefit at age 70 in 2025: $4,873 That’s over $1,000 more per month than claiming at age 62.
Maximum Social Security benefits for married couples in 2025
If both spouses work and earn a good income, they can both receive the maximum benefit. Husband’s maximum benefit at FRA: $3,822 Wife’s maximum benefit at FRA: $3,822 Total potential amount for a couple (2025): $7,644/month
However, if one spouse doesn’t work, the spousal benefit can be up to 50% of the working spouse’s benefit. Like this: Wife’s spousal benefit: $1,911 Joint: $5,733/month Maximum Social Security taxes in 2025
The Social Security tax rate is 6.2% for employees and 12.4% for self-employed workers.
Wage limit in 2025: $168,600
(Only income up to this amount is subject to Social Security tax)
- If your income is $168,600 or more, you’ll have to pay:
- Employee: $10,459.20
- Self-employed: $20,918.40
Amounts above this are not subject to Social Security tax.
How to calculate your maximum Social Security benefit in 2025
There’s no set number. Your benefit depends on:
Your maximum earnings for 35 years The age you started receiving benefitsn Your work history and FICA contributions Free Tool – Maximum Social Security Benefit Calculator (2025)
You can estimate your benefit using:
SSA’s official calculator:
- Social Security Quick Calculator:
- A fast way to estimate benefits by entering your current earnings and birth year.