Estimate the monthly retirement benefit you could get from Social Security. Enter your birth year, average yearly earnings and years of work to see your primary insurance amount (PIA), how much claiming early cuts it and how much waiting until 70 adds.
Last updated:
You
years
Work history
$
Typical pay over your career in today's dollars. Capped at $184,500 (2026 maximum).
years
Best 35 count; fewer years add zeros to the average.
When you claim
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Social Security Benefits Calculator
Enter your birth year to set your full retirement age.
Enter your average yearly earnings over your career in today's dollars (older years raised for wage growth), and how many years you have worked or will work.
Choose a claiming age between 62 and 70, plus extra months if you like.
Set a planning age to compare lifetime totals.
Press Calculate to see your monthly benefit, PIA and the comparison table for every claiming age.
The benefit formula, step by step
AIME (average indexed monthly earnings) = sum of your 35 highest wage-indexed years of earnings ÷ 420 months. Each year is capped at that year's taxable maximum ($184,500 in 2026).
PIA (primary insurance amount) = 90% of AIME up to $1,286 + 32% of AIME from $1,286 to $7,749 + 15% of AIME above $7,749 (2026 bend points). The result is rounded down to the dime.
Claiming adjustment: −5/9% per month for the first 36 months before full retirement age, −5/12% per extra month; +2/3% per month (8% a year) after full retirement age up to 70.
Example: average earnings of $65,000 over 35 years give AIME = $65,000 ÷ 12 = $5,416. PIA = 0.9 × $1,286 + 0.32 × ($5,416 − $1,286) = $1,157.40 + $1,321.60 = $2,479.00. Claimed at 62 with a full retirement age of 67 it pays 70%, about $1,735 a month; at 70 it pays 124%, about $3,073.
Full retirement age and claiming percentages
Birth year
Full retirement age
% of PIA at 62
% of PIA at 70
1943–1954
66
75%
132%
1955
66 + 2 months
74.17%
130.67%
1956
66 + 4 months
73.33%
129.33%
1957
66 + 6 months
72.50%
128%
1958
66 + 8 months
71.67%
126.67%
1959
66 + 10 months
70.83%
125.33%
1960 and later
67
70%
124%
If you were born on January 1, use the previous birth year (Social Security treats you as attaining an age the day before your birthday).
Things that change your actual check
Cost-of-living adjustments. Benefits rise each year with inflation (2.8% for 2026), so the figures here are in today's dollars.
Medicare Part B premiums are usually deducted from your benefit once you enroll.
The earnings test. If you claim before full retirement age and keep working, $1 is withheld for every $2 earned above an annual limit; it is credited back later.
Spousal and survivor benefits. A spouse can get up to 50% of your PIA, and a widow or widower can receive up to 100% of the benefit you were getting, one reason the higher earner often waits.
Income tax. Up to 85% of benefits can be taxable if your other income is high enough.
Frequently asked questions
How is my Social Security benefit calculated?
Social Security indexes your past earnings for wage growth, takes your highest 35 years and divides the total by 420 months to get your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). Your primary insurance amount (PIA) is 90% of AIME up to the first bend point, 32% up to the second and 15% above it. For people turning 62 in 2026 the bend points are $1,286 and $7,749.
What is my full retirement age?
It is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954, rises by two months per birth year from 1955 to 1959 (66 and 2 months up to 66 and 10 months), and is 67 for everyone born in 1960 or later. Claiming at full retirement age pays 100% of your PIA.
How much is the benefit reduced if I claim at 62?
The reduction is 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months before full retirement age and 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond that. With a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 is 60 months early and cuts the benefit by 30%, to 70% of your PIA, permanently.
How much more do I get by waiting until 70?
For anyone born in 1943 or later, each month you delay past full retirement age adds 2/3 of 1%, or 8% per year. With a full retirement age of 67, waiting until 70 pays 124% of your PIA. There is no gain from waiting past 70.
What if I worked fewer than 35 years?
Missing years count as zero in the 35-year average, which lowers your AIME. You need 40 credits (about 10 years of work) to qualify for retirement benefits on your own record. Working extra years that replace a zero or low year can raise your benefit.
Is this my exact benefit?
No. It is an estimate in today's dollars that assumes your average earnings already reflect wage indexing. For your exact figure, use your earnings record in a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Actual payments also rise each year with cost-of-living adjustments (2.8% for 2026).
When is the best age to claim Social Security?
It depends on health, savings and marriage. Waiting raises the monthly check and the survivor benefit for a spouse, while claiming early pays more checks. The table shows which claiming age gives the most total income if you live to your planning age; break-even ages are usually around 78 to 82.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.