T he Social Security Administration has announced significant changes to the retirement age, which will take effect starting in 2026. The full retirement age, which has been gradu

On a basic level, the monthly Social Security benefit you're entitled to in retirement is based on your earnings history -- specifically, the amount of money you made during your 35 highest-paid years in the labor force. From there, the age you choose to claim benefits at will either raise those monthly payments, shrink them, or leave them as is.