How Much Do I Need to Retire at 67?
Sixty-seven is Full Retirement Age for those born 1960 or later — claim Social Security at 100% of PIA with no early-filing reduction and no earnings test.
The short answer
Retiring at 67 aligns with Full Retirement Age: benefits equal 100% of Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) with no reduction for early filing. The earnings test no longer applies — you can work without Social Security withholding based on wages.
Medicare is already available; the main open decision is whether to delay Social Security to 70 for delayed retirement credits (~8%/year, up to 124% of PIA).
A 28-year horizon to age 95 supports a ~4% starting withdrawal as a baseline before taxes. The portfolio must bridge any gap if you delay Social Security from 67 to 70.
What makes 67 different
Sixty-seven is the “full benefit” milestone for the 1960+ cohort — the baseline against which early and delayed claiming are measured.
Compared with retiring earlier: Versus 65, you avoid permanent Social Security reductions from claiming before FRA and may have two additional years of savings — but you defer retirement income two years.
Compared with waiting longer: Versus 70, you receive ~24% lower Social Security for life if you claim at 67 — but you need a smaller portfolio bridge and enjoy three extra years of retirement.
When retiring at 67 tends to work — and when it gets harder
Favorable signals
- Social Security at FRA covers most baseline spending; portfolio funds discretionary goals
- Delaying to 70 is optional — not required to make the budget work
- Pre-RMD Roth conversion window remains open for several years
- Spousal coordination favors higher earner delaying — survivor benefit is larger
Challenging signals
- Must retire at 67 but portfolio cannot bridge three years to delay Social Security to 70
- Large RMDs starting at 73–75 will push MAGI into IRMAA tiers quickly
- Retiring at 66 with Social Security claimed early — permanent reduction versus this page’s FRA baseline
- Heavy debt or fixed costs leave little margin despite full Social Security benefits
Industry benchmarks (sanity check)
At FRA, many planners use 10× final salary or 8–10× annual spending as a checkpoint — Social Security at 100% of PIA often covers 30–45% of pre-retirement income for median earners, so the portfolio need may be lower than at 62 or 65 with early claiming.
Your numbers at 67
Adjust the inputs, then analyze for an illustrative readiness view. This public model is not Monte Carlo — it uses a constant withdrawal-rate heuristic plus modeled pre-Medicare healthcare bridge costs.
Must be 67 or younger on this page (you are planning a future retire-at-67 scenario).
Key variables at 67
Full Retirement Age claiming
Claiming at 67 (FRA for born 1960+) provides 100% of PIA. No earnings test applies once you reach FRA.
Delay to 70
Each year of delay from 67 to 70 adds 8% to benefits — up to 124% of PIA at 70. Requires portfolio or other income to bridge three years.
Retire at 66 vs 67
Retiring one year earlier with Social Security claimed at 66 reduces benefits ~7% permanently versus waiting to 67. The portfolio must fund one additional pre-Social Security year.
RMD planning
RMDs start at 73–75. Pre-RMD Roth conversions may still reduce lifetime taxes if tax rates rise or RMDs would push you into higher brackets.
Spousal benefits
Married couples should coordinate claiming — the higher earner delaying often maximizes survivor benefits.
Worked example (reference scenario)
Defaults: age 64 → retire at 67, $950,000 portfolio, $52,000/yr spending today, Social Security at 67. Use the calculator above to see the illustrative band for these inputs.
Scenario comparison
Readiness bands use the same illustrative model as the calculator (today's spending inflated at 2.4%/yr to retirement age).
| Scenario | Portfolio | Spending | Illustrative band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retire at 66, claim 66 | $880,000 | $48,000/yr | Likely covers modeled need |
| Reference (retire 67) | $950,000 | $52,000/yr | Likely covers modeled need |
| Retire 67, claim 70 | $1,050,000 | $54,000/yr | Likely covers modeled need |
Frequently asked questions
Should I retire at 67 or wait until 70 for Social Security?
Retiring at 67 lets you claim at full benefit. Delaying Social Security to 70 increases benefits ~24% but requires portfolio funding for three more years. Break-even is typically early-to-mid 80s.
What is full retirement age in 2026?
For those born 1960 or later, FRA is 67. Born 1955–1959: FRA is 66 plus 2–10 months. The FAQ on retiring at 66 vs 67 depends on your birth year.
How much less is Social Security at 66 vs 67?
For the 1960+ cohort, claiming at 66 is one year early — roughly 93% of PIA, a permanent ~7% reduction versus waiting to 67.
Is $900,000 enough to retire at 67?
At 4%, $900,000 yields $36,000/year from the portfolio. With Social Security at 67 (~$24,000–$36,000/year for typical earners), total income may cover $52,000–$60,000 spending before taxes.
If I retire at 67, should I take Social Security right away?
If you need the income, claiming at 67 is reasonable — you receive full PIA. If you can self-fund from the portfolio and longevity runs in your family, delaying to 70 adds ~24% to benefits. Break-even versus claiming at 67 is typically early-to-mid 80s.
Ask Praxion AI
On a full plan, you can explore age-specific trade-offs in plain language — grounded in your numbers, not generic advice.
- What if I retire at 66 instead of 67?
- Compare claiming Social Security at 67 vs 70 on my plan
Opens QuickStart — no account required to begin.
Explore next
Other retirement ages in this cluster:
Related guides:
- Early Retirement Roth Conversion Windows — Bracket-fill strategy before RMDs
- The 4% Rule Explained — Withdrawal rate basics and limits
- Retirement Care Costs — Healthcare and LTC benchmarks
- When Is a Good Time to Retire? — Timing vs savings amount
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