# 20 CFR § 404.409: What is full retirement age? > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.409 ## Section - **Citation:** 20 CFR § 404.409 - **Heading:** What is full retirement age? - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** September 22, 2026 - **Source:** Publisher's official text - **Location:** Title 20—Employees' Benefits > CHAPTER III—SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION > PART 404—FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE (1950- ) > Subpart E—Deductions › Reductions › and Nonpayments of Benefits ## Text 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] ## Nearby sections - [20 CFR § 404.1 § 404.1 Introduction.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.1.md) - [20 CFR § 404.402 § 404.402 Interrelationship of deductions, reductions, adjustments, and nonpayment of benefits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.402.md) - [20 CFR § 404.403 § 404.403 Reduction where total monthly benefits exceed maximum family benefits payable.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.403.md) - [20 CFR § 404.408a § 404.408a Reduction where spouse is receiving a Government pension.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.408a.md) - [20 CFR § 404.408b § 404.408b Reduction of retroactive monthly social security benefits where supplemental security income (SSI) payments were received for the same period.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.408b.md) - [20 CFR § 404.409 § 404.409 What is full retirement age?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.409.md) - [20 CFR § 404.412 § 404.412 After my benefits are reduced for age when and how will adjustments to that reduction be made?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.412.md) - [20 CFR § 404.417 § 404.417 Deductions because of noncovered remunerative activity outside the United States; 45 hour and 7-day work test.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.417.md) - [20 CFR § 404.421 § 404.421 How are deductions made when a beneficiary fails to have a child in his or her care?](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.421.md) - [20 CFR § 404.423 § 404.423 Manner of making deductions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.423.md) - [20 CFR § 404.425 § 404.425 Total amount of deductions where deduction events occur in more than 1 month.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.425.md) - [20 CFR § 404.430 § 404.430 Monthly and annual exempt amounts defined; excess earnings defined.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.430.md) - [20 CFR § 404.434 § 404.434 Excess earnings; method of charging.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.434.md) - [20 CFR § 404.436 § 404.436 Excess earnings; months to which excess earnings cannot be charged because individual is deemed not entitled to benefits.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.436.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-20-404.409. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.