diff --git a/claims.go b/claims.go
index 6248906..c5f302e 100644
--- a/claims.go
+++ b/claims.go
@@ -6,29 +6,37 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-// For a type to be a Claims object, it must just have a Valid method that determines
-// if the token is invalid for any supported reason
+// Claims must support the following.
+//
+// - Valid determines if token is invalid for any supported reason.
 type Claims interface {
 	Valid() error
 }
 
+// Leeway must support the following.
+//
+// - Allow set allowed leeway when validating iat and/or nbf claim.
+type Leeway interface {
+	Allow(n time.Duration) Claims
+}
+
 // Structured version of Claims Section, as referenced at
 // https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7519#section-4.1
 // See examples for how to use this with your own claim types
 type StandardClaims struct {
 	Audience  []string `json:"aud,omitempty"`
-	ExpiresAt int64  `json:"exp,omitempty"`
-	Id        string `json:"jti,omitempty"`
-	IssuedAt  int64  `json:"iat,omitempty"`
-	Issuer    string `json:"iss,omitempty"`
-	NotBefore int64  `json:"nbf,omitempty"`
-	Subject   string `json:"sub,omitempty"`
+	ExpiresAt int64    `json:"exp,omitempty"`
+	Id        string   `json:"jti,omitempty"`
+	IssuedAt  int64    `json:"iat,omitempty"`
+	Issuer    string   `json:"iss,omitempty"`
+	NotBefore int64    `json:"nbf,omitempty"`
+	Subject   string   `json:"sub,omitempty"`
+	leeway    int64
 }
 
-// Validates time based claims "exp, iat, nbf".
-// There is no accounting for clock skew.
-// As well, if any of the above claims are not in the token, it will still
-// be considered a valid claim.
+// Validates time based claims "exp, iat, nbf", as well, if any of the claims
+// are not in the token, it will still be considered a valid claim. Leeway can
+// be applied when optional through Leeway.Allow() through calling routine.
 func (c StandardClaims) Valid() error {
 	vErr := new(ValidationError)
 	now := TimeFunc().Unix()
@@ -58,6 +66,12 @@ func (c StandardClaims) Valid() error {
 	return vErr
 }
 
+// Allow sets allowed leeway when validating claims nbf and iat.
+func (c StandardClaims) Allow(n time.Duration) Claims {
+	c.leeway = int64(n.Seconds())
+	return c
+}
+
 // Compares the aud claim against cmp.
 // If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
 func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
@@ -73,7 +87,7 @@ func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 // Compares the iat claim against cmp.
 // If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
 func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyIssuedAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
-	return verifyIat(c.IssuedAt, cmp, req)
+	return verifyIat(c.IssuedAt-c.leeway, cmp, req)
 }
 
 // Compares the iss claim against cmp.
@@ -85,7 +99,7 @@ func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyIssuer(cmp string, req bool) bool {
 // Compares the nbf claim against cmp.
 // If required is false, this method will return true if the value matches or is unset
 func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
-	return verifyNbf(c.NotBefore, cmp, req)
+	return verifyNbf(c.NotBefore-c.leeway, cmp, req)
 }
 
 // ----- helpers
diff --git a/hmac_example_test.go b/hmac_example_test.go
index 98a4e4b..8bcb759 100644
--- a/hmac_example_test.go
+++ b/hmac_example_test.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func ExampleParse_hmac() {
 		if _, ok := token.Method.(*jwt.SigningMethodHMAC); !ok {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Unexpected signing method: %v", token.Header["alg"])
 		}
-		
+
 		// hmacSampleSecret is a []byte containing your secret, e.g. []byte("my_secret_key")
 		return hmacSampleSecret, nil
 	})
diff --git a/map_claims.go b/map_claims.go
index 14b434c..e613350 100644
--- a/map_claims.go
+++ b/map_claims.go
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@ package jwt
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
-	// "fmt"
 )
 
 // Claims type that uses the map[string]interface{} for JSON decoding
-// This is the default claims type if you don't supply one
+// This is the default claims type if you don't supply one.
 type MapClaims map[string]interface{}
 
 // Compares the aud claim against cmp.
diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index d6901d9..9047758 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 )
 
 type Parser struct {
-	ValidMethods         []string // If populated, only these methods will be considered valid
-	UseJSONNumber        bool     // Use JSON Number format in JSON decoder
-	SkipClaimsValidation bool     // Skip claims validation during token parsing
+	ValidMethods         []string      // If populated, only these methods will be considered valid
+	UseJSONNumber        bool          // Use JSON Number format in JSON decoder
+	SkipClaimsValidation bool          // Skip claims validation during token parsing
+	Leeway               time.Duration // Allowed leeway when validating iat, nbf claims.
 }
 
 // Parse, validate, and return a token.
@@ -55,13 +57,15 @@ func (p *Parser) ParseWithClaims(tokenString string, claims Claims, keyFunc Keyf
 		}
 		return token, &ValidationError{Inner: err, Errors: ValidationErrorUnverifiable}
 	}
-
 	vErr := &ValidationError{}
-
-	// Validate Claims
+	// Validate Claims.
 	if !p.SkipClaimsValidation {
-		if err := token.Claims.Valid(); err != nil {
-
+		if t, ok := token.Claims.(Leeway); ok {
+			err = t.Allow(p.Leeway).Valid()
+		} else {
+			err = token.Claims.Valid()
+		}
+		if err != nil {
 			// If the Claims Valid returned an error, check if it is a validation error,
 			// If it was another error type, create a ValidationError with a generic ClaimsInvalid flag set
 			if e, ok := err.(*ValidationError); !ok {
diff --git a/parser_test.go b/parser_test.go
index 8a4a408..6665464 100644
--- a/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser_test.go
@@ -172,6 +172,38 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		jwt.ValidationErrorNotValidYet | jwt.ValidationErrorExpired,
 		&jwt.Parser{UseJSONNumber: true},
 	},
+	{
+		"Validate iat and nbf with sufficient leeway",
+		"", // autogen
+		defaultKeyFunc,
+		&jwt.StandardClaims{
+			ExpiresAt: time.Now().Add(time.Minute * 5).Unix(),
+			IssuedAt:  time.Now().Add(time.Minute * 4).Unix(),
+			NotBefore: time.Now().Add(time.Minute * 4).Unix(),
+		},
+		true,
+		0,
+		&jwt.Parser{
+			UseJSONNumber: true,
+			Leeway:        5 * time.Minute,
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		"Validate iat and nbf with insufficient leeway",
+		"", // autogen
+		defaultKeyFunc,
+		&jwt.StandardClaims{
+			ExpiresAt: time.Now().Add(time.Minute * 5).Unix(),
+			IssuedAt:  time.Now().Add(time.Minute * 4).Unix(),
+			NotBefore: time.Now().Add(time.Minute * 4).Unix(),
+		},
+		false,
+		0,
+		&jwt.Parser{
+			UseJSONNumber: true,
+			Leeway:        1 * time.Minute,
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		"SkipClaimsValidation during token parsing",
 		"", // autogen