Enter your birth year to find out your Full Retirement Age (FRA) according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
function calculateFRA() {
var birthYearInput = document.getElementById("birthYear");
var birthYear = parseInt(birthYearInput.value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("fraResult");
if (isNaN(birthYear) || birthYear 2024) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid birth year (e.g., 1960).";
return;
}
var retirementAgeYears;
var retirementAgeMonths;
if (birthYear = 1943 && birthYear = 1960) {
retirementAgeYears = 67;
retirementAgeMonths = 0;
} else {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Unable to determine FRA for the given birth year.";
return;
}
var monthsText = (retirementAgeMonths === 0) ? "" : " and " + retirementAgeMonths + " months";
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Based on your birth year of " + birthYear + ", your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is " + retirementAgeYears + " years" + monthsText + ".";
}
.fra-calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 25px;
max-width: 600px;
margin: 20px auto;
box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.fra-calculator-container h2 {
color: #333;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
font-size: 1.8em;
}
.fra-calculator-container p {
color: #555;
line-height: 1.6;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.fra-input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
}
.fra-input-group label {
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #444;
font-size: 1.1em;
}
.fra-input-group input[type="number"] {
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1em;
width: 100%;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.fra-calculator-container button {
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
padding: 12px 25px;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1em;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
width: 100%;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.fra-calculator-container button:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
}
.fra-result {
margin-top: 25px;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #e9f7ef;
border: 1px solid #d4edda;
border-radius: 5px;
color: #155724;
font-size: 1.1em;
text-align: center;
font-weight: bold;
}
.fra-result p {
margin: 0;
color: #155724;
}
Understanding Your Full Retirement Age (FRA)
Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is a crucial concept when planning for Social Security benefits. It's the age at which you are entitled to receive 100% of your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the monthly benefit calculated from your lifetime earnings. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines your FRA based solely on your birth year.
Why is FRA Important?
Knowing your FRA is vital for several reasons:
Maximizing Benefits: If you claim Social Security benefits before your FRA, your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced. For example, claiming at age 62 (the earliest possible age) can result in a reduction of up to 30% for those with an FRA of 67.
Delayed Retirement Credits: Conversely, if you delay claiming benefits past your FRA, you can earn delayed retirement credits. These credits increase your monthly benefit by a certain percentage for each year you delay, up to age 70.
Earnings Limit: If you work and claim benefits before your FRA, your benefits may be reduced if your earnings exceed a certain limit. Once you reach your FRA, there are no limits on how much you can earn while receiving benefits.
How is FRA Determined?
The Social Security Amendments of 1983 gradually increased the FRA from 65 to 67. This change was implemented to address the financial solvency of the Social Security system due to increased life expectancies. The increase is phased in over several decades, meaning your FRA depends on when you were born. The calculator above uses the following schedule:
Born 1937 or earlier: FRA is 65
Born 1938: FRA is 65 and 2 months
Born 1939: FRA is 65 and 4 months
Born 1940: FRA is 65 and 6 months
Born 1941: FRA is 65 and 8 months
Born 1942: FRA is 65 and 10 months
Born 1943-1954: FRA is 66
Born 1955: FRA is 66 and 2 months
Born 1956: FRA is 66 and 4 months
Born 1957: FRA is 66 and 6 months
Born 1958: FRA is 66 and 8 months
Born 1959: FRA is 66 and 10 months
Born 1960 or later: FRA is 67
Examples:
If you were born in 1957, your Full Retirement Age is 66 years and 6 months. If you claim benefits at 62, your monthly benefit would be reduced. If you wait until 66 and 6 months, you receive 100% of your PIA.
If you were born in 1960, your Full Retirement Age is 67 years. Claiming at 62 would result in a significant reduction, while waiting until 67 would give you your full benefit.
Understanding your Full Retirement Age is a fundamental step in making informed decisions about your retirement planning and Social Security benefits. Use the calculator above to quickly determine your FRA and start planning your financial future.