Social Security’s Retirement Age Is 70

An informal survey of staff at the Center for Retirement Research asking “What is the current retirement age for Social Security?” produced a range of responses. About half — mostly the “old hands” — said 67. The other half — generally younger and newer staff members — gave answers including 62, 65, 66 and 68. In my view, they are all wrong. Social Security’s retirement age is 70.

The fact that people are confused is not surprising.  Age 70 is a relatively new development, and most of the conversation about Social Security focuses on the so-called “Full Retirement Age.” 

Currently workers can claim their benefits at any time between 62 and 70, but benefits claimed before age 70 are actuarially reduced, based on an individual with average life expectancy.  In other words, the claiming age affects monthly benefits but, on average, is intended not to alter total benefits paid over the lifetime.

As the Table shows, claiming at 62 instead of 70 cuts the monthly benefit almost in half, from $1,000 to $565.  Given that Social Security is a particularly valuable type of income – inflation adjusted and lasts for as long as you live – it generally makes sense to postpone claiming as long as possible to get the highest monthly amount.

It is only relatively recently – in 2008 with the maturation of the Delayed Retirement Credit – that age 70 became Social Security’s retirement age.  A quick bit of history might help.  Before 1972, maximum monthly Social Security benefits were paid at 65, and monthly benefits were not increased for claiming later.  In 1972, Congress introduced a Delayed Retirement Credit, which increased benefits by 1 percent for each year of delay.  A 1-percent credit, however, did not come close to compensating for the fact that late claimers would get benefits over fewer years.  In 1983, the adjustment was raised to 3 percent; and that percent was increased gradually to 8 percent in 2008.  At this point, the adjustment provided by the Delayed Retirement Credit is actuarially fair – that is, it is designed to keep lifetime benefits constant, on average, for those who claim later.

So, if age 70 is the age at which Social Security pays the highest benefits, what is all this talk about the “Full Retirement Age?”  Before the Delayed Retirement Credit became actuarially fair, the Full Retirement Age was a meaningful concept.  It was the age at which lifetime benefits were the highest.  Once the Delayed Retirement Credit became actuarially fair, the Full Retirement Age became largely meaningless.  It does not describe the age when benefits are first available.  That is age 62.  It does not describe the age when monthly benefits are at their maximum.  That is age 70.  It really does not have any meaning in terms of an official retirement age.  

The story does not completely wash because a number of specific Social Security provisions are linked to the Full Retirement Age.  An earnings test applies before the Full Retirement Age but not thereafter.  Benefits for widows and spouses are reduced if claimed before the Full Retirement Age and not thereafter. 

But these provisions are relatively small and do not undermine the basic fact that 70 is the age for full monthly benefits under Social Security. 

So then, what does it mean at this point to increase the Full Retirement Age?  That is simply a way to cut benefits, and a very unfair one at that.