If you were born in 1956, your Social Security full retirement age is 66 and 4 months — the age you can claim 100% of your earned benefit with no reduction.
Claim at 62 and your benefit is permanently reduced by about 26.7%. Wait until 70 and delayed-retirement credits raise it by about 29.3%; credits stop at 70.
Find the best claiming age for your numbers.
Other cohorts: Born in 1955 · Born in 1957.
Based on SSA's published full-retirement-age schedule and reduction/credit formulas. General information, not financial advice.
Updated July 2026