Full Retirement Age (FRA)
retirementAlso known as: FRA, full retirement age
Updated · Written and reviewed by Konstantin Iakovlev
Detailed explanation
Claiming Social Security before FRA permanently reduces your monthly benefit (5/9 of 1% per month for first 36 months, then 5/12 of 1%). Delaying past FRA earns 8% per year credit through age 70 (Delayed Retirement Credits, DRCs). At age 70, claims max out — there's no benefit to waiting longer. The "break-even" point for delaying is typically around age 80-82: if you live longer, delaying produces more lifetime benefits; if shorter, claiming early wins. FRA also matters for spouse and survivor benefits.
Use these calculators to apply this concept
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