4. The Retirement Age Creeps Up
We all know the big magic number: full retirement age (FRA). That’s when you can claim your full benefits without reductions.
For people born in 1959, their FRA is now 66 years and 10 months. Next year, for folks born in 1960 or later, FRA officially becomes 67. And that’s where it stops—the FRA won’t creep higher unless Congress changes the law down the road.
The takeaway: if you were born in 1960 or after, your baseline full retirement age is 67. Of course, you can still claim as early as 62 (with reduced checks) or wait until 70 (to maximize benefits). But the FRA shift is something everyone should know, especially if you’re planning your retirement timeline.
