Social Security Retirement

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Dory Sutker

 SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT
Pardon me for veering off the topic of disability, but I want to say a few words about social security retirement benefits. You may have noticed that the Social Security retirement age is increasing. For many years, full retirement age was 65. But, for persons born in 1938 or later, the full retirement age gradually increases until it reaches 67 for individuals born after 1959.
As primary reasons for raising the retirement age, Congress cited two factors: improvements in the health of elderly persons and increases in average life expectancy.

So, when will you reach full retirement age? Find the year of your of birth below and check out your full retirement age. Quirky fact: If you were born on January 1 of any year, you should refer to the previous year in determining your retirement age.

YEAR OF BIRTH FULL RETIREMENT AGE

1937 or earlier 65
1938 65 and 2 months
1939 65 and 4 months
1940 65 and 6 months
1941 65 and 8 months
1942 65 and 10 months
1943-1954 66
1955 66 and 2 months
1956 66 and 4 months
1957 66 and 6 months
1958 66 and 8 months
1959 66 and 10 months
1960 and later 67

The earliest a person can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits is 62. If you elect to take benefits at 62 (or at any time between age 62 and full retirement age), your benefit amount will be reduced.

To find out more about your retirement benefits, you can go to social security 
 

To learn more about social security issues, please read our social security faq.  To learn more about our social security lawyers, please click on our firm bios and read about Dory Sutker, or Suja Varghese, or watch our social security video testimonials.

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