Estimate your monthly Social Security benefit and compare claiming at 62, your full retirement age or 70. The calculator shows the break-even age and your lifetime benefits, in today's dollars.
| Claim at | Monthly | Vs FRA | Total to 85 |
|---|
Know More: How the Social Security Calculator Works
2027 update. Benefits rise 3.6% in January 2027 after a 2.8% increase in 2026. The average retired worker received $2,088.79 a month in September 2026, and the maximum benefit at full retirement age in 2026 is $4,152 (SSA 2027 fact sheet).
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How benefits are calculated (35 years, AIME, PIA)
- Your earnings record: each year's earnings, up to the wage base ($184,500 in 2026, $192,300 in 2027), are indexed to national wage growth.
- AIME: your highest 35 years are added up and divided by 420 months to get your average indexed monthly earnings. Fewer than 35 years means zeros in the average.
- PIA: your primary insurance amount, the benefit at full retirement age, is 90% of the first $1,286 of AIME, 32% of AIME up to $7,749, and 15% above that (2026 figures).
Example: $75,000 a year for 35+ years gives an AIME of $6,250 and a PIA of about $2,745 a month. The formula replaces a larger share of lower earnings: about 62% of income for a $30,000 earner and 44% for a $75,000 earner.
You need 40 credits (about 10 years of work) to qualify. This calculator assumes steady earnings in today's dollars, so it's an estimate; your official estimate uses your actual record.
Full retirement age
| Born | Full retirement age |
|---|---|
| 1943 to 1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months |
| 1960 or later | 67 |
Claiming early vs delaying
You can claim from 62 to 70. With a full retirement age of 67:
- At 62: 70% of your full benefit, for life. The cut is 5/9 of 1% a month for the first 36 months early and 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond.
- At 67: 100%.
- At 70: 124%, because delayed retirement credits add 8% a year (2/3 of 1% a month). There's no gain from waiting past 70.
The break-even age for waiting until 70 instead of claiming at 62 is about 80. If you expect to live past your early 80s, delaying usually pays more over your lifetime; it also raises the survivor benefit your spouse would get. Claiming earlier can make sense with poor health, no other income, or if you need the money now.
If you claim before full retirement age and keep working, $1 is withheld for every $2 you earn above $24,480 in 2026 ($25,560 in 2027); the withheld benefits are credited back later.
Spousal benefits
A spouse can receive up to 50% of your full benefit (your PIA) if that's more than their own. Claimed before their full retirement age, it's reduced, to as low as 32.5% at 62. Spousal benefits don't grow past full retirement age, but a surviving spouse can receive up to 100% of what you were getting, including your delayed credits. Divorced spouses married at least 10 years may also qualify.
Taxes on benefits
Up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable, depending on your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of your benefits):
| Combined income | Single | Married, joint |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50% taxable | $25,000 to $34,000 | $32,000 to $44,000 |
| Up to 85% taxable | Over $34,000 | Over $44,000 |
For 2025 through 2028, people 65 and older can also take an extra $6,000 deduction each, phased out above $75,000 of modified AGI ($150,000 for joint filers), which lowers tax on benefits for many retirees. Some states also tax benefits.
Get your official estimate from SSA
Create a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount to see your full earnings history and personalized estimates at every age. Check the earnings record for missing years; mistakes can lower your benefit. Results here are estimates, not financial advice. Last reviewed: November 1, 2026.
Social Security Calculator FAQs
How much Social Security will I get?
It depends on your 35 highest years of earnings and when you claim. Someone who earned $75,000 a year for 35 years would get about $2,745 a month at 67 in today's dollars, $1,922 at 62 or $3,404 at 70. The average retired worker gets about $2,089 a month.
What age is best to claim Social Security?
There's no single best age. Waiting until 70 gives the largest monthly check (24% more than at 67) and pays more over your lifetime if you live past about 80. Claiming at 62 can make sense if your health is poor or you need the income.
Is Social Security taxable?
Up to 85% of benefits can be taxed if your combined income is over $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (married filing jointly). If benefits are your only income, they're usually not taxed. A $6,000 senior deduction for 2025 to 2028 lowers the tax for many people 65 and older.
What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2026?
$4,152 a month at full retirement age, $2,969 at 62 and $5,181 at 70, for people who earned at least the wage base for 35 years.
More retirement calculators
- RMD Calculator: required withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s
- 401(k) Calculator: savings to add to Social Security
- Roth IRA Calculator: tax-free retirement income
- Inflation Calculator: what benefits buy over time