Significance of FRA

[Bigdawg]

Question for the gang at large: What is the significance of FRA? You can get SS at any age between 62 and 70. Why is a certain age (67 for me) considered FRA? I can start receiving SS at 66 year, 11 months or 67 years, 1 month or anytime between 62-70. I understand that you get less at 62 and it basically increases aprox 8%/yr up until 70. I get all that. I just don't understand why on age is called Full Retirement Age.

 

[NgineER]

From Ssa.gov https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/ageincrease.html
“Full retirement age (also called "normal retirement age")”

You get full benefit at the normal retirement age, but if you stick your hand in the cookie jar earlier, there are fewer cookies for you.

 

[bobandsherry]

From Ssa.gov https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/ageincrease.html
“Full retirement age (also called "normal retirement age")”

You get full benefit at the normal retirement age, but if you stick your hand in the cookie jar earlier, there are fewer cookies for you.

Actually there are more cookies (# payments) but they are smaller ($ payments).

 

[pb4uski]

The other difference is the that the discount for taking before FRA is lower than the premium for taking later than FRA.

If FRA is 66 then the discount for taking early varies but is ~20-30% for the 4 years... or on average 6 1/4%/year (it varies somewhatand the rate in the first 3 years differs from the earlier years).

OTOH, if you delay, the premium for waiting is 8% simple growth.... so if you wait 4 years then your age 70 benefit is 132% of your age 66 benefit.

See https://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/early_late.html and https://www.ssa.gov/oact/ProgData/ar_drc.html

 

[latexman]

FRA is the basis for the SS calculations. You must first calculate how many $'s/month you get at FRA, then adjust that to the age you want to start getting SS. If you want SS to start earlier than FRA, you get less. If you want SS to start later than FRA, you get more.

 

[Luck_Club]

Very Helpful in Calculating SS benefit

The other difference is the that the discount for taking before FRA is lower than the premium for taking later than FRA.

If FRA is 66 then the discount for taking early varies but is ~20-30% for the 4 years... or on average 6 1/4%/year (it varies somewhatand the rate in the first 3 years differs from the earlier years).

OTOH, if you delay, the premium for waiting is 8% simple growth.... so if you wait 4 years then your age 70 benefit is 132% of your age 66 benefit.

See https://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/early_late.html and https://www.ssa.gov/oact/ProgData/ar_drc.html

The above is a great calculator for determining your Social Security benefit amount early.

 

[RunningBum]

FRA is just a name, and an anchor for benefit amounts.


If they don't set the anchor somewhere they'd have to list the benefit amount for each month you start taking between 62 and 70. With a stated FRA age, they give the base benefit amount at FRA, and it's just a % adjustment up or down for taking early or late.

 

[marko]

FRA is just a name, and an anchor for benefit amounts.


If they don't set the anchor somewhere they'd have to list the benefit amount for each month you start taking between 62 and 70. With a stated FRA age, they give the base benefit amount at FRA, and it's just a % adjustment up or down for taking early or late.

Right. And, AFAIK the % up or down is the same for each age from the year before.
IOW (not sure of the exact percentage) 6% more at 63 than 62, 6% more at 65 than 64, 6% more at 68 than 67 etc. There is no particular jump up by waiting to FRA just another 6% from the year before your FRA.

 

[Bigdawg]

From Ssa.gov https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/ageincrease.html
“Full retirement age (also called "normal retirement age")”

You get full benefit at the normal retirement age, but if you stick your hand in the cookie jar earlier, there are fewer cookies for you.

You said that (above quote) and I said this:

"I understand that you get less at 62 and it basically increases aprox 8%/yr up until 70."

Doesn't really answer the question since I already stated you get less at 62 and more at 70.

 

[Bigdawg]

The other difference is the that the discount for taking before FRA is lower than the premium for taking later than FRA.

If FRA is 66 then the discount for taking early varies but is ~20-30% for the 4 years... or on average 6 1/4%/year (it varies somewhatand the rate in the first 3 years differs from the earlier years).

OTOH, if you delay, the premium for waiting is 8% simple growth.... so if you wait 4 years then your age 70 benefit is 132% of your age 66 benefit.

See https://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/early_late.html and https://www.ssa.gov/oact/ProgData/ar_drc.html

Thanks. This is the best response and answers the question completely for me. I thought the pre FRA and post FRA %'s were the same. Didn't realize the bump up % after FRA was higher.

 

[donheff]

In addition to being the base for calculating benefits, before FRA the benefits will be cut (effectively postponed) if you have substantial wage income. After FRA you can take SS regardless whether you still work.

 

[pb4uski]

Right. And, AFAIK the % up or down is the same for each age from the year before.
IOW (not sure of the exact percentage) 6% more at 63 than 62, 6% more at 65 than 64, 6% more at 68 than 67 etc. There is no particular jump up by waiting to FRA just another 6% from the year before your FRA.

No, that's wrong. See post #4.

 

[Red Badger]

One other minor point...
Until 2016 (when rules were changed), spouse 1 could file and suspend at FRA (but not prior to), allowing spouse 2 to draw spousal benefit. Then, spouse 2 could delay filing until maximum payout was attained. Until late 2016, FRA had real significance for many couples.