Who Can Get Disability Benefits
Applying For Disability Benefits
Qualifying for Retirement Benefits
Full Retirement Age
If
you were born in 1942 or earlier, you are already eligible for your full
Social Security benefit. If you were born from 1943 to 1960, the age at
which full retirement benefits are payable increases gradually to age 67.
The following chart will guide you in determining your full retirement
age.
| Age to receive full Social Security benefits | |
| Year of birth | Full retirement age |
| 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 |
| NOTE: People who were born on
January 1 of any year should refer to the previous year. |
|
Early retirement
You can get Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but if you retire before your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced, based on your age. For example, if you retire at age 62, your benefit would be about 25 percent lower than what it would be if you waited until you reach full retirement age.
Note: Sometimes health problems force people to retire early. If you cannot work because of health problems, you should consider applying for Social Security disability benefits. The amount of the disability benefit is the same as a full, unreduced retirement benefit. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, those benefits will be converted to retirement benefits.
Delayed retirement
You may choose to keep working even beyond your full retirement age. If you do, you can increase your future Social Security benefits in two ways.
Each additional year you work adds another year of earnings to your Social Security record. Higher lifetime earnings may mean higher benefits when you retire.
Also, your benefit will increase automatically by a certain percentage from the time you reach your full retirement age until you start receiving your benefits or until you reach age 70. The percentage varies depending on your year of birth. For example, if you were born in 1943 or later, they will add 8 percent per year to your benefit for each year that you delay signing up for Social Security beyond your full retirement age.
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