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What year was the Social Security law passed that raised the full retirement age above 65?

Last Updated: June 14, 2011

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The Social Security Amendments of 1983 (H.R. 1900, Public Law 98-21) contained a provision that increased the full retirement age (i.e., the age to qualify for unreduced Social Security retirement benefits) for individuals retiring in the year 2000 and later.

For persons born in 1938 or later, their Social Security benefit was affected by a provision that raised the age at which full Social Security benefits are payable. The age for collecting full Social Security retirement benefits is gradually increasing from 65 to 67 over a 22-year period as shown below:

Year of Birth and Full Retirement Age
1937 or 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 – 1954: 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

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