Social Security Calculator
Estimate your monthly Social Security retirement benefits based on your age and earnings history. Plan your retirement income with this free calculator.
Social Security retirement benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years. The monthly amount depends heavily on when you claim — from age 62 (reduced) to age 70 (maximum).
How benefits are calculated
- SSA indexes your earnings to account for wage inflation
- Your AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings) is calculated from your top 35 years
- The PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) is derived using bend points on the AIME
- Your actual benefit adjusts based on the age you claim
When to claim: early vs late
- Age 62: benefits reduced ~25–30% permanently
- Full Retirement Age (FRA): 67 for those born after 1960 — 100% of PIA
- Age 70: maximum benefit — 24% more than FRA if born after 1960
- Break-even age: roughly 78–82 — if you live past this, waiting pays off