Your key ages
If you were born in 1964, your full retirement age is 67. You reach it in 2031. Claim before then and your check is permanently smaller. Claim after and it grows by 8% a year until 70.
One detail catches people out: Social Security counts you as reaching an age the day before your birthday. If you were born on January 1, 1964, you are treated as born in 1963, and the rules for 1963 apply to you (see the 1963 page).
What each claiming age pays
The table shows the share of your full benefit you would get for life, and what that means on a $2,000 full benefit. The spousal column shows what a husband or wife born in 1964 would get on your record, as a share of your full benefit.
| Claim at | Year | Your benefit | On $2,000 | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 2026 | 70% | $1,400 | 32.5% |
| 63 | 2027 | 75% | $1,500 | 35% |
| 64 | 2028 | 80% | $1,600 | 37.5% |
| 65 | 2029 | 86.7% | $1,733 | 41.7% |
| 66 | 2030 | 93.3% | $1,867 | 45.8% |
| 67 (full) | 2031 | 100% | $2,000 | 50% |
| 68 | 2032 | 108% | $2,160 | 50% |
| 69 | 2033 | 116% | $2,320 | 50% |
| 70 | 2034 | 124% | $2,480 | 50% |
Where you stand in 2027
You turn 63 in 2027. You can claim now, but you are below full retirement age, so the earnings test applies if you keep working. In 2027, Social Security holds back $1 for every $2 you earn above $25,560. In the calendar year you reach full retirement age, the limit rises to $67,920 and only $1 of every $3 above it is held back, counting only months before your birthday month. Money held back is not lost: your check is raised at full retirement age to make up for it.
Other dates to know
| Earliest retirement benefit (62) | 2026 |
| Earliest widow's or widower's benefit (60) | 2024 |
| Medicare eligibility (65) | 2029 |
| Delayed credits end (70) | 2034 |
| Required minimum distributions begin | 2039 (age 75) |
To see these choices with your own numbers, use the when to claim calculator. Married couples can compare both records in the spousal and survivor calculator, and the 2027 payment calendar shows the day your check arrives each month.
Questions
What is the full retirement age if I was born in 1964?
Your full retirement age is 67. You reach it in 2031. At that age you get 100% of your full benefit.
How much less do I get at 62 if I was born in 1964?
Claiming at 62 pays 70% of your full benefit, a permanent cut of 30%. On a $2,000 full benefit, that is $1,400 a month instead of $2,000.
How much more do I get by waiting to 70?
Waiting until 70 pays 124% of your full benefit. On a $2,000 full benefit, that is $2,480 a month, plus every yearly cost-of-living raise on top.
When do I sign up for Medicare?
You become eligible for Medicare at 65, in 2029. Medicare age does not move with full retirement age.