KnowledgeGap News & Analysis

Survey Shows 21% Know Social Security Full Retirement Age

A Nationwide Retirement Institute survey found that only 21% of U.S. adults correctly identified their full retirement age for Social Security. Additionally, 74% expressed confidence in managing their benefits without professional help, yet the average score on a quiz covering basic rules was only 8 out of 15. Notably, 61% of beneficiaries stated they could not survive missing even half a monthly payment. This lack of knowledge regarding critical claiming mechanics could result in significant financial losses over time, as many respondents reported concerns about retirement taxes affecting their income.