You may have seen claims that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will “adjust the retirement age in September 2025,” and that it’s “no longer fixed at 67.”
Here’s the reality: the full retirement age (FRA) is set by federal law and varies by year of birth, not by a one-time September switch.
In 2025, the system is still following the long-planned schedule enacted decades ago—nothing sudden is taking effect in September that changes everyone’s FRA.
If you turn 62 in 2025, the current FRA tied to your birth year still applies, and Medicare eligibility remains at 65.
What “Not Fixed at 67” Actually Means
The FRA has never been a single age for everyone; it’s a range that depends on birth year. Congress raised the FRA from 65 to 67 in the 1983 amendments, phased in over many years.
For people born in 1960 or later, the FRA is 67; for those born in 1959, it’s 66 and 10 months. There is no new September 2025 policy that redefines the FRA across the board.
Quick FRA snapshot (current law)
| Birth year | Full Retirement Age (FRA) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 66 years 10 months | Many in this cohort reach FRA during late 2025 (exact month depends on birthday). |
| 1960 or later | 67 | FRA of 67 applies for everyone born 1960+. |
Can SSA Change the Retirement Age by Itself?
No. The FRA is defined in statute. Any change requires Congress to pass a law and the President to sign it—just like the 1983 increase. The SSA administers those laws; it doesn’t unilaterally set the FRA.
That’s why you won’t find an official SSA rule saying “FRA changes for everyone this September.”
What Does Affect Your 2025 Claiming Decision
- Earliest claiming age remains 62. Claiming before your FRA permanently reduces your monthly Social Security benefit. With an FRA of 67, claiming at 62 means about a 30% reduction.
- Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs) still increase your benefit after FRA—up to age 70. Waiting can substantially boost your check.
- FRA cohort timing. If you were born in 1959, your FRA of 66y10m falls across 2025–2026 depending on your birthday; for 1960+, your FRA is 67 (reached in 2026 or later).
About Those Headlines Saying “Change in September 2025”…
Some blogs and posts are circulating misleading headlines implying a sweeping September change.
The official SSA pages and authoritative research do not announce any universal September reset of the retirement age.
The only changes you should rely on are the birth-year schedule and routine annual updates (like COLA or earnings-test thresholds), not clicky rumors.
Proposals to Raise the Age Further Are Only Proposals
From time to time, policymakers discuss raising the FRA (for example, toward 69).
The SSA Office of the Chief Actuary analyzes what-if scenarios, but these are not current law. Unless Congress acts, your FRA remains what the birth-year table says today.
How to Plan Smartly in 2025
- Look up your exact FRA on SSA’s official tool and plan around it—not headlines.
- Estimate your benefit at 62, FRA, and 70 to see the trade-offs between starting early vs. waiting.
- Consider health, work prospects, and savings. If you expect longevity or can keep working, delaying may pay off via DRCs; if not, earlier claiming could still be rational.
There is no official September 2025 change that resets Social Security’s retirement age for everyone or makes it “no longer fixed at 67.”
What does exist is the long-standing birth-year schedule: 1959 cohorts have an FRA of 66y10m (landing across late 2025/2026), and everyone born in 1960 or later has an FRA of 67.
Early claiming at 62 still reduces benefits; delaying up to 70 still increases them. Base your retirement timing on current law and your own situation, not viral posts.