Provisions Affecting Retirement Age
These provisions modify:
- the normal retirement age (NRA), the age for which individuals can retire and receive the full Primary Insurance Amount (PIA); or
- the earliest eligibility age (EEA), the age for which individuals can first begin receiving retirement benefits, currently age 62; or
- both of the above.
We provide a summary list of all options (printer-friendly PDF version) in this category. For each provision listed below, we provide an estimate of the financial effect on the OASDI program over the long-range period (the next 75 years) and for the 75th year. In addition, we provide graphs and detailed single year tables. We base all estimates on the intermediate assumptions described in the 2026 Trustees Report.
Choose the type of estimates (summary or detailed) from the list of provisions.
We group these provisions as follows:| Number | Table and graph selection |
|---|---|
| C1.1 |
Starting with those age 62 in 2027, increase the normal retirement age (NRA) 1 month every 2 years until the NRA reaches 68.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
| C1.2 |
Increase the normal retirement age (NRA) 2 months per year for those age 62 starting in 2027 and ending in 2032 (NRA reaches 68 for those age 62 in 2032).
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
| C1.3 |
Starting for those age 62 in 2027, index the normal retirement age (NRA) to maintain a constant ratio of expected retirement years (life expectancy at NRA) to potential work years (NRA minus 20). We assume the NRA will increase 1 month every 2 years.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
| C1.4 |
Increase the normal retirement age (NRA) 2 months per year for those age 62 starting in 2027 and ending in 2038 (NRA reaches 69 for those age 62 in 2038). Thereafter, increase the NRA 1 month every 2 years.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
| C1.6 |
Starting with those age 62 in 2027, increase the normal retirement age (NRA) 1 month every 2 years until the NRA reaches 69. Also increase the age up to which the delayed retirement credit may be earned at the same rate (from 70 to 72). No change to earliest eligibility age.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
| C1.7 |
Increase the normal retirement age (NRA) 3 months per year for those age 62 starting in 2027 and ending in 2034 (NRA reaches 69 for those age 62 in 2034). Increase the age up to which delayed retirement credits may be earned from 70 to 72 on the same schedule. Increase the widow(er) NRA in the same manner. The earliest eligibility age (EEA) for worker's and widow(er)'s benefit is unchanged.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
| C2.1 |
Increase the earliest eligibility age (EEA) by 2 months per year for those age 62 starting in 2028 and ending in 2045 (EEA reaches 65 for those age 62 in 2045).
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
| C2.2 |
Starting for those age 62 in 2027, index the normal retirement age (NRA) to maintain a constant ratio of expected retirement years (life expectancy at NRA) to potential work years (NRA minus 20). We assume the NRA will increase 1 month every 2 years. Also, raise the earliest eligibility age (EEA) for retired-workers, aged widow(er)s, and disabled widow(er)s by the same amount as the NRA starting for those attaining 62 in 2027.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
| C2.3 |
Starting for those age 62 in 2027, index the normal retirement age (NRA) to maintain a constant ratio of expected retirement years (life expectancy at NRA) to potential work years (NRA minus 20). We assume the NRA will increase 1 month every 2 years. Also, increase the earliest eligibility age (EEA) by the same amount as the NRA starting for those age 62 in 2027 so as to maintain a 5 year difference between the two ages. Include a "hardship exemption" with no EEA/NRA change for a worker with 25 years of earnings (with 4 quarters of coverage each), and average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) less than 250 percent of the poverty level (wage-indexed from 2013). The hardship exemption is phased out for those with AIME above 400 percent of the poverty level.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
| C2.8 |
Starting in 2029, convert all disabled-worker beneficiaries to retired-worker status upon attainment of their earliest eligibility age (EEA) rather than their normal retirement age (NRA). After conversion, apply the early retirement reduction for retirement at EEA (currently 30 percent for those age 62 in 2029) phased in over 40 years.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |