Starting November 2025, if you were born in 1959, you’ll need to wait a bit longer to claim your full Social Security benefits now 66 years and 10 months instead of 66 years and 8 months. This small but important shift affects millions and could change when and how much money lands in your account.(ssa.gov)
What’s Up with the Change?
The Social Security Administration has been slowly raising the full retirement age since 1983. Now, if you hit 66 years and 10 months in 2025 (that’s for 1959 births), you get the updated rule. It’s part of a bigger plan that will eventually set the full retirement age at 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. So if you’re in this group, get ready to hold off just a bit longer before the full payout starts.(ssa.gov/history/1983amend.html)
What Does This Mean for Your Benefits?
Claiming Social Security early at 62? Heads up you’ll see about 28% less each month than if you wait until your full retirement age. But here’s a little bright side: waiting past your full retirement age (up to 70) can bump your monthly checks up by around 8% a year. Timing really matters when it comes to boosting your retirement cash.(ssa.gov, ssa.gov)
Who’s Getting the Update?
This affects people born in 1959 starting November 2025 through October 2026, depending on their birthday. Those born before 1959? Your full retirement age is already set. And for anyone born in 1960 or after, it’s locked at 67 years. Basically, a lot of folks will want to rethink their retirement timeline with this in mind.(ssa.gov)
Why Now?
Back in 1983, lawmakers decided to gradually raise the retirement age because Americans are living longer. Life expectancy has jumped from about 61 years in 1935 to nearly 79 now, so Social Security needed to keep up. This change helps make sure the system stays funded and ready for the future.(ssa.gov/history/lifeexpect.html)
Extra Things to Know
Your Social Security payments don’t all arrive on the same day. Depending on your birth date, your monthly check comes on different Wednesdays throughout the month. Plus, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments follow a different schedule. If you’re planning your retirement, it’s a smart move to talk to a financial advisor or use online calculators to figure out the best time to claim.
What Are People Saying?
Some people aren’t thrilled about having to wait longer or worry about working more years. Meanwhile, lawmakers have floated ideas about raising the retirement age further but nothing’s official yet. Experts remind everyone that balancing fairness with the program’s long-term health is the tricky part.
