Social Security Retirement Age in 2027: What Changes and Who Is Affected

• The U.S. full retirement age does not increase again in 2027. For people born in 1960 or later, it remains 67.
• Workers can still claim reduced Social Security retirement benefits at 62, while waiting until 70 can produce a larger monthly payment.
• In Canada, CPP can begin between 60 and 70, while OAS starts at 65 or can be delayed until 70.

What is the Social Security retirement age in 2027?

For most people searching about the Social Security retirement age in 2027, the most important answer is simple: there is no new U.S. full retirement age increase scheduled for 2027 under current law.

The full retirement age, sometimes called the normal retirement age, is the age when you qualify for 100% of the retirement benefit calculated from your earnings record. It depends on your birth year, not the year you file your claim.

For anyone born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67. That rule applies to people turning 62 in 2022 and later, including people who turn 62 in 2027. The gradual increase from age 65 to 67 was already built into federal law and has reached its current endpoint.

If you were born on January 1, Social Security generally treats your birth year as the previous year when determining your retirement age. That small detail can matter for people close to a benefit threshold.

Who is affected in 2027?

People reaching age 62 in 2027 will still be able to apply for retirement benefits, but their full retirement age will be 67. Claiming before 67 means accepting a permanent reduction compared with the benefit available at full retirement age.

You can generally begin retirement benefits as early as age 62 if you meet Social Security’s eligibility requirements. Starting at 62 can reduce the monthly benefit by as much as 30% for someone whose full retirement age is 67.

Waiting beyond full retirement age can increase the monthly benefit through delayed retirement credits. Those credits generally continue until age 70. There is no additional increase for waiting past 70, so delaying a claim beyond that age usually does not create a larger Social Security retirement payment.

People already receiving Social Security

If you are already collecting retirement benefits, the 2027 retirement-age rule does not suddenly change your eligibility or force you to reapply. Your benefit is generally based on the age when you claimed, your earnings history, and the applicable benefit formulas.

The full retirement age also matters when you work while receiving benefits. Before reaching full retirement age, Social Security may withhold part of your benefit if your wages exceed the annual earnings-test limit. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit on wages or self-employment income.

The specific 2027 earnings-test amounts were not officially available as of September 5, 2026. They are adjusted periodically under federal formulas, so estimates published before the official announcement should not be treated as final figures.

What does not change in 2027?

• Age 62 remains the earliest claiming age for most retirement benefits.
• Age 67 remains the full retirement age for people born in 1960 or later.
• Age 70 remains the latest age for delayed retirement credits.
• Medicare eligibility generally remains tied to age 65, not full retirement age.

That last point causes frequent confusion. Social Security retirement age and Medicare eligibility age are separate rules. Someone can have a full retirement age of 67 and still need to take action around Medicare when approaching 65.

Are lawmakers raising the retirement age to 68 in 2027?

Not under current law. The Social Security Administration publishes illustrations of proposed policy options, including plans that would gradually increase the normal retirement age. Those pages describe possible changes, not enacted rules.

As of September 5, 2026, there is no confirmed federal change that raises the full retirement age to 68 beginning in 2027. Search results, social media posts, and retirement articles may discuss proposals or long-term solvency ideas, but a proposal is not the same as a benefit rule.

The same caution applies to claims about a new age-62 restriction. Current law still allows eligible workers to start retirement benefits at 62, although taking benefits early usually means receiving a smaller monthly amount for life.

Could the 2027 Social Security COLA change the answer?

The annual cost-of-living adjustment affects payment amounts, but it does not change your full retirement age. The 2027 COLA had not been officially announced as of September 5, 2026. The final adjustment depends on inflation data released later in the year.

Similarly, the 2027 taxable maximum, earnings-test limits, and other annual Social Security figures should be confirmed after the Social Security Administration publishes its official update. These numbers can affect workers and beneficiaries, but they are different from the retirement-age rules.

How to apply for Social Security benefits in 2027

You can apply online through the Social Security Administration, by phone, or through a local Social Security office. The online application is usually the simplest option for most applicants.

1. Sign in to or create your personal my Social Security account.
2. Decide which month you want benefits to begin.
3. Apply up to four months before that starting month.
4. Review your earnings record and estimated benefit before submitting the application.
5. Keep your confirmation information and respond promptly if Social Security requests documents.

Your first payment generally arrives in the month after the benefit month you select. Before applying, compare the effect of starting at 62, claiming at full retirement age, and delaying to 70. Your personal health, household income, taxes, spouse’s benefit, survivor protection, and need for cash can all affect the best choice.

Canada: CPP and OAS retirement ages in 2027

Canada does not use the same Social Security retirement-age system as the United States. Canadian readers usually need to consider two separate federal programs: the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security.

Canada Pension Plan

The standard age to start CPP is 65, but you can begin as early as 60 or delay the pension until 70. Starting before 65 permanently reduces the monthly amount by 0.6% for each month early, up to a maximum reduction of 36% at age 60.

Delaying CPP after 65 increases the monthly amount by 0.7% per month, up to 42% at age 70. There is no additional CPP advantage to waiting past 70.

Old Age Security

OAS can begin at 65 or be delayed until 70. Delaying after 65 increases the monthly payment by 0.6% per month, up to a maximum increase of 36% at age 70.

CPP and OAS do not have to begin at the same time. For example, someone might start OAS at 65 and delay CPP until 70, depending on income needs, health, work plans, taxes, and eligibility for income-tested benefits such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

So, for Canadians, a search for “retirement age in 2027” is usually about when to start CPP or OAS rather than about a new national retirement age. The federal rules described above remain the key age thresholds unless the government announces a change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will the Social Security full retirement age become 68 in 2027?

A. No. As of September 5, 2026, current law keeps the full retirement age at 67 for people born in 1960 or later. Plans to raise it to 68 are proposals, not an enacted 2027 rule.

Q. Can I still claim Social Security at age 62 in 2027?

A. Yes. Eligible workers can generally begin retirement benefits at 62. However, people whose full retirement age is 67 may receive up to 30% less than their full-retirement-age benefit.

Q. Is Medicare eligibility changing because the Social Security retirement age is 67?

A. No. Social Security full retirement age and Medicare eligibility are separate. Medicare eligibility generally begins around age 65, subject to enrollment and eligibility rules.

Q. Should I start CPP and OAS at the same time?

A. Not necessarily. CPP and OAS are separate benefits, and Canadians may start them at different ages. The right timing depends on income needs, health, work, taxes, residence history, and other retirement income.