Social Security Calculator 2026
Estimate your monthly Social Security retirement benefit at any claiming age. Enter your birth year and earnings — compare benefits at 62, full retirement age, or 70 using official SSA bend point and FRA rules.
Social Security is a major source of income for most retirees in the United States. This calculator gives you an estimate of your monthly retirement benefit based on your birth year and your earnings history — either as an approximate AIME from your current salary and years worked, or by entering your AIME directly from your Social Security statement. The age at which you claim has a big impact on your monthly check: you can claim as early as 62, wait until full retirement age, or delay to 70 to lock in the highest possible monthly amount.
How Social Security benefits are calculated
The Social Security Administration uses a two-step process to determine your retirement benefit. First, they compute your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) by taking your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusting past years for inflation, and dividing by 420 (35 years × 12 months). Only wages on which you paid Social Security tax count. If you have fewer than 35 years of work, the missing years are included as zeros, which lowers your AIME.
Second, they apply a formula to your AIME using bend points — dollar thresholds that change each year with national wage growth. The formula replaces a higher percentage of pre-retirement earnings for lower earners and a lower percentage for higher earners. The result is your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the benefit you'd receive if you claim exactly at full retirement age.
Claiming age & benefit percentage
Assuming full retirement age of 67 (birth year 1960+). Percentages are of your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount).
| Claiming age | % of PIA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Age 62 | 70% | Max reduction (FRA 67) |
| Age 63 | 75% | |
| Age 64 | 80% | |
| Age 65 | 86.7% | |
| Age 66 | 93.3% | |
| Age 67 | 100% | Full retirement age |
| Age 68 | 108% | |
| Age 69 | 116% | |
| Age 70 | 124% | Max benefit |
When should I claim Social Security?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Claiming at 62 can make sense if you need the income right away, have health concerns, or don't expect to live past your late 70s or early 80s. You'll receive more total payments over a shorter period, but each check will be smaller for the rest of your life.
Waiting until full retirement age avoids the early-reduction penalty and is often a good middle ground. Waiting until 70 maximizes your monthly benefit — smart if you're still working, have other savings, or expect to live a long time. The “break-even” age — when total benefits from claiming later catch up to claiming early — is usually in your late 70s to early 80s. Factors like taxes, spousal or survivor benefits, and whether you're still working also matter.
Understanding AIME and PIA
AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings) is the foundation of your benefit. The SSA takes your highest 35 years of taxable earnings, indexes earlier years for wage inflation so they're comparable to today's dollars, then divides the total by 420 to get a monthly average. Only earnings up to the Social Security wage base each year count. If you worked 40 years, your lowest 5 years are dropped; if you worked 30 years, 5 years of zeros are included.
PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) is your benefit if you claim exactly at full retirement age. It's computed by applying the bend point formula to your AIME: 90% of the first bend of AIME, 32% of the next segment, and 15% of the remainder. Bend points are updated each year and are tied to the year you turn 62. For your actual earnings history and official benefit estimate, create a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov.
The Social Security Fairness Act: WEP and GPO are eliminated — what it means in 2026
On January 5, 2025, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act (P.L. 118-273), permanently repealing two provisions that had reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for millions of government workers and their families — effective retroactive to January 2024.
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) — repealed
Reduced the Social Security PIA of workers who also received a pension from employment that wasn't covered by Social Security (e.g., many state and local government jobs, some federal positions, foreign employment). Affected ~2 million workers.
Government Pension Offset (GPO) — repealed
Reduced spousal and survivor Social Security benefits by two-thirds of a government pension, often eliminating them entirely for teachers, police officers, and other public employees. Affected ~800,000 survivors and spouses.
Retroactive payments completed July 2025
The SSA distributed $17 billion in retroactive payments to 3.1+ million beneficiaries by July 2025, 5 months ahead of schedule. Average retroactive payment: $6,710. If you were affected and believe you have not received your adjustment, contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. Note: new applicants who filed after the signing date may be subject to a 6-month retroactivity limit for retirement and survivor benefit applications.
The 2026 earnings test: how working before FRA affects your benefits — and why withheld benefits aren't permanently lost
If you claim Social Security before full retirement age and continue to work, the SSA may temporarily withhold part of your benefit — but the withheld amount is credited back as a higher monthly payment once you reach FRA.
| Situation | 2026 exempt amount | Withholding rate |
|---|---|---|
| Under FRA for full year | $24,480/year ($2,040/mo) | $1 withheld per $2 over limit |
| Reaching FRA during 2026 | $65,160/year (earnings before FRA month only) | $1 withheld per $3 over limit |
| After reaching FRA | No limit | No withholding at all |
Withheld benefits are NOT permanently lost
A common misconception is that the earnings test permanently reduces your benefit. It does not. The SSA recalculates your monthly benefit at FRA and increases it by approximately 1/180th of 1% for each month withheld — effectively returning the withheld value as a higher lifetime monthly payment. This is fundamentally different from the early claiming reduction, which is permanent. Contrast with: claiming at 62 vs. FRA reduces your benefit permanently for life. Earnings test withholding only defers payment.
Mid-year retirees: the SSA applies a monthly earnings test (not annual) in your first year of retirement — $2,040/month for those under FRA for all of 2026, $5,430/month in the year you reach FRA. You can receive a full benefit for any complete month you are “retired” regardless of your annual total.
Spousal and survivor Social Security benefits — the rules most couples and divorced spouses get wrong
Social Security is not just an individual benefit — it includes spousal, divorced-spouse, and survivor benefits that can significantly increase household retirement income.
| Benefit type | Maximum amount | Earliest age | Delay past FRA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spousal (current spouse) | 50% of spouse's PIA at FRA | 62 (32.5% of PIA) | No benefit to delaying |
| Divorced-spouse | 50% of ex-spouse's PIA at FRA | 62 (reduced) | No benefit to delaying |
| Survivor (deceased spouse) | 100% of deceased's actual benefit | 60 (50 if disabled) | Beneficial up to FRA only |
Divorced-spouse eligibility (4 requirements)
- Married at least 10 consecutive years
- Divorced at least 2 years (unless ex-spouse already filed)
- Currently unmarried
- You and ex-spouse are both at least 62
The classic household claiming strategy
- Lower earner claims early (62 or FRA) for immediate household income
- Higher earner delays to age 70 to lock in the largest possible monthly benefit — which also becomes the survivor benefit if they die first
- Spousal benefit does not increase by delaying past FRA — only your own retirement benefit earns delayed credits
The monthly benefit amounts above come from your birth year, earnings inputs, and claiming age—not a third-party feed. We estimate Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), apply SSA bend points for your eligibility year, compute your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at full retirement age, then adjust for early or delayed claiming. Below are the formulas, the order we follow, and worked examples you can check by hand.
Formulas
| Line | Formula |
|---|---|
| AIME (salary mode) | (Annual salary × years worked) ÷ 420 months (max 35 years) |
| PIA from AIME | 90% of first bend + 32% of second segment + 15% of remainder |
| Early reduction (before FRA) | 5/9 of 1% per month for first 36 months; 5/12 of 1% for additional months |
| Delayed credits (after FRA to 70) | 2/3 of 1% per month (8% per year), capped at age 70 |
| Benefit at claim age | PIA × (1 − early reduction) or PIA × (1 + delayed credits) |
Order of operations
Determine full retirement age (FRA)
Based on birth year (e.g. 67 for born 1960+)
Your FRA is when you receive 100% of your Primary Insurance Amount. Born 1943–1954: FRA 66. Born 1955–1959: FRA increases by 2 months per year. Born 1960 or later: FRA 67.
Estimate or enter AIME
Salary mode: constant wage over years worked ÷ 420 months
In salary mode we assume steady earnings with no wage indexing—an approximation. For your official AIME, enter it directly from your SSA statement or use my Social Security at ssa.gov.
Apply bend points for eligibility year
PIA = 90% × bend₁ + 32% × (AIME − bend₁) + 15% × excess
Bend points are set for the year you turn 62. We use the SSA formula on your AIME to get your Primary Insurance Amount—the monthly benefit at FRA.
Adjust for claiming age
Reduce before FRA; add delayed credits from FRA to 70
Claiming at 62 with FRA 67 means 60 months of early reduction (~30%). Waiting until 70 adds 36 months of delayed credits (~24% above PIA). Benefits are capped at age 70.
Worked example
Born 1970 · FRA 67 · claim at 67
AIME estimate: ($60,000 × 35 years) ÷ 420 mo = $5,000/mo
PIA at FRA (67): $2,381/mo using 2027 bend points
Claim at 67: $2,381/mo (100% of PIA)
Age 62: $1,667/mo (70% of PIA) · Age 70: $2,952/mo (124% of PIA)
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Birth year | 1970 |
| Full retirement age | 67 |
| Year turns 62 | 2032 |
| Bend point year | 2027 |
| AIME | $5,000/mo |
| PIA (benefit at FRA) | $2,381/mo |
| Benefit at age 67 | $2,381/mo |
| Benefit at age 62 | $1,667/mo |
| Benefit at age 70 | $2,952/mo |
Direct AIME: Direct AIME entry: $3,500/mo · born 1960 · claim at 67 → PIA $1,714/mo.
Fewer years: Only 10 years of covered work lowers AIME → AIME $1,429/mo (vs $5,000 with 35 years).
Early claim: Claim at 62: reduced benefit vs waiting to FRA → $1,667/mo (70% of PIA).
Constants we use
| Parameter | What we use |
|---|---|
| Default birth year | 1970 |
| Default salary / years | $60,000 · 35 years |
| Default claiming age | 67 |
| 2026 bend points (first / second) | $1,286 / $7,749 |
| Early reduction (FRA 67, claim 62) | ~30% below PIA (~70% of PIA) |
| Delayed credits (FRA 67, claim 70) | ~24% above PIA (~124% of PIA) |
What we do not model on this page
We use a simplified AIME estimate without full wage indexing, earnings history, or the taxable maximum cap by year. We do not model spousal or survivor benefits, the earnings test, COLA adjustments after claiming, government pension offset, windfall elimination (repealed 2025), disability benefits, or benefits for non-citizens without covered work. For your official estimate, use ssa.gov or your my Social Security statement.
Frequently asked questions
View your official earnings history and benefit estimates.
Official Social Security retirement benefit rules and claiming information.
SSA's own online benefit estimation tools.
Official FRA rules by birth year.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only. Benefits are subject to SSA records, actual earnings history, and rules not captured here (e.g., WEP, GPO, earnings test). Verify at ssa.gov.
Related calculators
| Birth year | FRA |
|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 66 & 2 mo. |
| 1956 | 66 & 4 mo. |
| 1957 | 66 & 6 mo. |
| 1958 | 66 & 8 mo. |
| 1959 | 66 & 10 mo. |
| 1960+ | 67 |
Bend points are set the year you turn 62 and updated annually for wage growth.