At What Age Are You Considered a Senior Citizen?

As you age, you may suddenly find yourself labeled as a senior citizen through various mail and advertisements. You may tell yourself that "age is just a number" or "65 is the new 50," but you get constant reminders that society, employers, and even family see you as older. At what point do you become a senior citizen?

The exact number may vary, but several factors zero in on the age range when older adults consider themselves to be of senior citizen age.

• What is your numerical age?

• At what age can you retire?

• When can you claim Social Security benefits?

• When do you become eligible for  Medicare?

• When do you see declines in bodily function and increased healthcare concerns?

• When do you need care?

• When do you qualify for an AARP card and senior discounts?

55, 60, 62, 65 - Which milestone marks the age of being senior?

Many people start considering themselves senior citizens when they start getting mail from AARP—this begins around age 50. This is just one milestone that signals you may be officially considered a “senior.”

The ages of 55, 62, and 65 are additional milestone years that mark the onset of senior citizenship. Why?

• 55 - 60 is when most  senior citizen discounts kick in.

• 62 is the earliest age people qualify for Social Security—unless they qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance at an earlier age due to health issues.

• 65 is the age when people age into Medicare, the federal health insurance program

Discounts at 50, 55, and 60

The practice of offering senior citizen discounts as early as age 50 dates back to the Great Depression, when older Americans disproportionately lost their savings after the stock market crash and other economic downturns. With increased consciousness of the lower, fixed income status of many older adults, businesses started offering small discounts on meals, event admissions, travel, and other goods and services. Seniors only needed to show proof of age or AARP membership to claim the discount. 

Price breaks are now more of a marketing tactic than a conscious effort to put more money in the hands of older Americans. Businesses are not required to offer benefits to older individuals, but the discounts are a popular incentive to increase sales.

Retirement at 62 Or 65 - and beyond

Though there is no exact age for retirement, some programs have age requirements that have shaped the legal definitions of who is considered a senior citizen. A person can retire at 40, but they won't qualify for any senior benefits.

Sixty-five years old was an arbitrary retirement age included in the bill that established Social Security in 1935. Public pressure, populist politicians, and civic groups lobbied for 65 to be the retirement age. It was the age eventually chosen for German pension programs and for distributing benefits to Civil War veterans. Those who want to retire earlier can start collecting reduced Social Security benefits at 62.

As the life expectancy of the average worker increased, workers expected to receive retirement benefits for a longer time, which put the financial stability of the Social Security program at risk. In 1983, the Social Security retirement age for full benefits was raised to 66 years and 2 months for those born in 1955 and 67 for those born after 1960. Changes in the law also reduced the benefits for those retiring at 62 from  80% of the full amount to 70%.

Current proposals threaten to raise the retirement age to 69 and reduce benefit amounts.

Although many are outraged by attempts to raise the retirement age, some people enjoy working as long as they can. Others need to work well past retirement age to save enough for their senior years. Mandatory retirement laws are a thing of the past.  While being a senior citizen means retiring  for some, others retire from their careers, pursue new full or part-time opportunities, or even start new ventures.

Within the US, retirement ages vary between states. Eligibility for state benefits also varies. While the average US retirement age is 64 years old, it ranges from 61 years in West Virginia to 66 in Massachusetts and South Dakota.

Medicare eligibility at 65

Medicare eligibility is one of the most valuable senior benefits. At age 65, every American ages into Medicare (some people with disabilities are eligible earlier).  Health care costs can be a major expense as we age. Many older individuals experience declining health and have conditions that require costly  prescription medications or treatments. This federal health insurance is financed by contributions made during the working years. Premiums are generally deducted from Social Security income. 

When you become eligible for Medicare, you have different options. First, there’s Original Medicare, but people on Medicare also have access to Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) plans, and prescription drug plans. Learn about Medicare in simple terms in this guide.

Do all seniors have the same needs and lifestyles?

Despite debate over the age of a senior citizen, 65 is the age the Census uses to define the oldest demographic. According to the National Council on Aging, 17.3% of the U.S, population is 65 or older. The senior population grew five times faster in 2020 than the entire population grew between 1920-2020. The aging US population is caused by two key factors: the large Baby Boomer population and increasing life expectancies. Since the 2010 census, 10,000 people have turned 65 each day, a phenomenon known as the "gray tsunami." By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be at least 65.

Seniors are also living longer, with the average life expectancy now at  73.5 for men and 79.6 for women. Not everyone who’s considered a senior citizen is the same. Older Americans are often divided into three different age brackets:

• Young-old: 65–74 years old

• Middle-old: 75–84 years old

• Oldest-old: 85 and older 

People considered young-old make up the largest group of senior citizens, totaling 33.1 million people in 2020. This group is the most independent and, barring personal health issues, is the most active. Many may still work or start out their retirement by traveling or fulfilling other life-long dreams. Many choose to stay in their homes, and must decide if they should modify their homes to be safer for aging in place. Some may choose to move to a senior living community. To stay active, they may volunteer or find new friends and activities at local senior centers. If their only income is Social Security retirement benefits, they may tighten their belts and rely on senior citizen benefits—such as restaurant and other discounts. Some low-income individuals with few resources may qualify for Medicare Savings Programs and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in addition to Social Security payments.

The next age bracket, the middle-old, may find themselves slowing down and developing more medical issues that require them to consider care options. Those who can afford it may plan a move to assisted living, while others opt for home care services that are more affordable. Seniors with fewer resources might turn to government programs such as Medicaid for health care, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to stretch their food budget, and housing assistance to make rent affordable. Many state and local government programs help with home repairs, energy assistance, property tax exemptions, weatherization, and personal care. This group is expected to grow in coming years, until all the Boomers age in.

The oldest-old typically need the most assistance and medical care. Many in this age range experience dementia or other memory issues, mobility issues, and other health conditions. While seniors move to assisted living at different ages, the average age is 85, according to the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). Those who stay at home often need family caregivers or paid professionals to provide home care services. Home health aides may assist with Activities of Daily Living,  like bathing, dressing, taking pills, and going to the bathroom.

Members of this cohort have already beat life expectancy odds, and many will join the growing numbers of seniors over 95. Currently, there are over 101,000 seniors over 100 in the US. That number is expected to quadruple to 422,000 by 2054. 

These days, as many people reach senior status, they find themselves caring for parents and grandparents, who have matured into the “oldest-old” age bracket. This makes them part of the "sandwich generation" as they try to balance their own escalating needs with those of older relatives.

Senior citizen and retirement ages around the world

Around the world, being a senior citizen is tied to retirement in the mid to late 60s. Like in the US, governments are fighting to increase the retirement age, when benefits start. Here are a few examples of the different retirement ages in other countries.

Source: World Population Review

The oldest retirement age is 70 in Libya and the lowest is 55 in Sri Lanka.

If you live in the United States, you may consider yourself a senior citizen at age 50 or 65. you are generally recognized as a senior in your mid to late 60s. Senior citizenship has many perks, so prepare to enjoy the ride!