What Is Normal Retirement Age?

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Definition

Normal retirement age is a standard term for the age when you can retire and receive your full retirement income. In the U.S., this mostly relates to your Social Security benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • Normal retirement age is the age when you can retire and draw full Social Security benefits.
  • It ranges between age 65 and 67, depending on when you were born.
  • Retiring before or after your NRA will reduce or increase your monthly benefit.
  • Concepts similar to normal retirement age also affect your ability to take benefits from a pension or qualified retirement plan.

Definition and Examples of Normal Retirement Age

In most cases, if you have been working, you have been paying a portion of your income into Social Security. That guarantees an income when you are no longer able to work. To get that full income, you must wait until your normal retirement age (NRA) to start taking your available benefits as defined by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

  • Acronym: NRA
  • Alternate Name: Full retirement age

The SSA sets your NRA based on when you were born. Examples of normal retirement age include the following:

  • For people born in 1937 or before, their full retirement age is 65.
  • For people born between January 2, 1943, and January 1, 1955, full benefits begin at age 66.
  • Those born in 1960 or later must wait until they turn 67.

Here are the NRAs based on date of birth, as listed on the Social Security website:

Birth Year Normal Retirement Age
1937 and earlier 65
1938 65 and 2 months
1939 65 and 4 months
1940 65 and 6 months
1941 65 and 8 months
1942 65 and 10 months
1943-54 66
1955 66 and 2 months
1956 66 and 4 months
1957 66 and 6 months
1958 66 and 8 months
1959 66 and 10 months
1960 and later 67
People born on January 1 should use the prior birth year to find their normal retirement age.

How Normal Retirement Age Affects Your Benefits

Your NRA determines how much of your available benefits you can draw, depending on when you apply for Social Security. If you begin taking Social Security benefits before you reach normal retirement age, your benefits will be reduced. If you delay your retirement past your NRA, your benefits will increase until you reach age 70.

As the system stands, anyone can start drawing Social Security benefits at age 62 or later, regardless of normal retirement age. But monthly payments are permanently reduced for early retirees based on how far they are from normal retirement age when they start drawing funds. Those who start at age 62 could see benefits cut by as much as 30%, based on SSA guidelines.

Note

Those who wait until after their normal retirement age to draw benefits can earn permanent higher monthly payments. The years waited translate into "delayed retirement credits," which can significantly boost income for you and a surviving spouse. You can weigh the potential effect of different starting ages by going to the Social Security website.

Working Before Normal Retirement Age

You can also lose some of your benefits if you work while receiving Social Security. This penalty is steeper if you have not reached your normal retirement age.

For 2022, you will lose $1 in benefits for every $2 in wages you earn over $19,560 per year until the month you reach the NRA. If you wait to take benefits until your NRA but still work, Uncle Sam will take $1 for every $3 in wages earned in excess of $51,960.

Note

To make the most of your Social Security benefits, look at your retirement age and that of your spouse. Create a plan that makes the most sense for the long term.

Other Aspects of the Normal Retirement Age

The concept of normal retirement age also applies to pension plans. According to IRS rules and regulations, a pension plan may pay benefits to someone age 62 or older, even if they are not separated from employment.

For qualified benefit plans, unless you elect otherwise, benefits must begin within 60 days after the end of the last plan year in which you do one of the following:

  1. Turn 65 (or sooner if the plan has an earlier retirement age)
  2. Be active in the plan for ten years
  3. End service with your employer

Pay attention to age 59 1/2, which is the standard age when you can take penalty-free withdrawals from tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs. If you are already retired, you can also take penalty-free withdrawals from a 401(k) plan at age 55 if you stopped working for the employer that holds your plan. Note that these are still taxable income.

The formal definition of "normal" retirement age applies to when and how you can access various types of retirement accounts. Each person has their own definition. In 2015, the average retirement age was 64 for men and 62 for women. What you define as "normal" may vary. It comes down to when you are ready and what your retirement goals are.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Social Security Administration. "Normal Retirement Age."

  2. Social Security Administration. "Early or Late Retirement?"

  3. Social Security Administration. "Receiving Benefits While Working."

  4. IRS. "Retirement Topics - Significant Ages for Retirement Plan Participants."

  5. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. "The Average Retirement Age—An Update."

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