Calculator
Social Security Claiming Calculator
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Find your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at ssa.gov/myaccount. Avg 2026 retired-worker benefit ≈ $2,000/mo.
SSA life expectancy at age 65: ~83 (men), ~85 (women). Used to compare total lifetime benefits.
Assumes Full Retirement Age = 67 (anyone born 1960 or later). For earlier birth years, FRA is younger. This calculator excludes COLA adjustments and taxation of benefits.
Enter your PIA and claiming age to see your benefit options.
Reference
Benefit Adjustment by Claiming Age
For Full Retirement Age = 67. Assumes uniform monthly reductions/credits.
| Claiming age | Adjustment | % of PIA | Per $1,000 PIA |
|---|
Early retirement reduction: 5/9 of 1% per month for first 36 months early (6.667%/yr), then 5/12 of 1% for each additional month (5%/yr). Delayed retirement credit: 2/3 of 1% per month (8%/yr) up to age 70.
FAQ
Common Questions
When should I claim Social Security?
There's no universally correct answer — it depends on health, family longevity, marital status, and other income. The break-even point between claiming at 62 vs 67 is around age 78-80. Between 67 and 70, the break-even is around age 82-83. If you expect to live past your mid-80s, delaying tends to maximize lifetime benefits. If your health is poor or you need the income, claiming earlier may be smarter.
What is Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)?
Your PIA is the monthly benefit you'd receive if you claimed exactly at Full Retirement Age (67 for those born 1960+). It's calculated from your highest 35 years of indexed earnings using a bend-point formula. You can see your personalized PIA estimate by logging into your account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
Is Social Security taxed?
Up to 85% of benefits may be subject to federal income tax, depending on your "combined income" (AGI + nontaxable interest + ½ of SS benefits). For single filers, taxation kicks in above $25K combined income. 13 states also tax SS benefits (though several are phasing this out). This calculator shows gross benefits; your after-tax amount may be 70-85% of these figures.
Will Social Security run out?
The SSA Trustees project that without legislative changes, the OASI trust fund will be depleted around 2033. After depletion, ongoing payroll taxes would still cover ~77% of scheduled benefits. Most analysts expect Congress to act before then — possibly through some combination of payroll tax increases, raising the wage base, raising FRA, or trimming benefits for higher earners.