20 CFR § 404.409 - What is full retirement age?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s404.409"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 404.409 - What is full retirement age?"
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "404.409"
section_name: "What is full retirement age?"
chapter_name: "SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "404"
part_name: "FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE (1950-  )"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
cfr_part: "404"
---


# 404.409 What is full retirement age?

Full retirement age is the age at which you may receive unreduced old-age, wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's benefits. Full retirement age has been 65 but is being gradually raised to age 67 beginning with people born after January 1, 1938. See § 404.102 regarding determination of age.

(a) *What is my full retirement age for old-age benefits or wife's or husband's benefits?* You may receive unreduced old-age, wife's, or husband's benefits beginning with the month you attain the age shown.

| If your birth date is: | Full retirement age is: |
| --- | --- |
| Before 1/2/1938 | 65 years. |
| 1/2/1938—1/1/1939 | 65 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1939—1/1/1940 | 65 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1940—1/1/1941 | 65 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1941—1/1/1942 | 65 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1942—1/1/1943 | 65 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1943—1/1/1955 | 66 years. |
| 1/2/1955—1/1/1956 | 66 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1956—1/1/1957 | 66 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1957—1/1/1958 | 66 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1958—1/1/1959 | 66 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1959—1/1/1960 | 66 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1960 and later | 67 years. |

(b) *What is my full retirement age for widow's or widower's benefits?* You may receive unreduced widow's or widower's benefits beginning with the month you attain the age shown.

| If your birth date is: | Full retirement age is: |
| --- | --- |
| Before 1/2/1912 | 62 years. |
| 1/2/1912—1/1/1940 | 65 years. |
| 1/2/1940—1/1/1941 | 65 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1941—1/1/1942 | 65 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1942—1/1/1943 | 65 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1943—1/1/1944 | 65 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1944—1/1/1945 | 65 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1945—1/1/1957 | 66 years. |
| 1/2/1957—1/1/1958 | 66 years and 2 months. |
| 1/2/1958—1/1/1959 | 66 years and 4 months. |
| 1/2/1959—1/1/1960 | 66 years and 6 months. |
| 1/2/1960—1/1/1961 | 66 years and 8 months. |
| 1/2/1961—1/1/1962 | 66 years and 10 months. |
| 1/2/1962 and later | 67 years. |

(c) *Can I still retire before full retirement age?* You may still elect early retirement. You may receive old-age, wife's or husband's benefits at age 62. You may receive widow's or widower's benefits at age 60. Those benefits will be reduced as explained in § 404.410.

[68 FR 4707, Jan. 30, 2003]