Social Security Retirement Estimator
Estimate your monthly Social Security benefit at 62, 67, and 70 based on your current income.
Type your current age, your annual income, and the age you want to retire. This tool returns an estimated monthly benefit at your chosen age, plus a side-by-side comparison at the three key claiming ages. Useful as a planning starting point. For an actual benefit estimate based on your real earnings record, see the official calculators at ssa.gov/myaccount.
Examples: Current age 45, income $75,000, retire at 67: roughly $2,150/mo · Current age 50, income $100,000, retire at 70: roughly $3,250/mo
How this estimate works
Social Security retirement benefits are based on your highest 35 years of indexed earnings. The Social Security Administration calculates an Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) figure from your work history, then applies a progressive formula with two bend points to compute your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Your actual benefit is then adjusted up or down depending on when you start claiming.
This calculator simplifies that process by treating your current annual income as representative of your career average (in today's dollars). It is a ballpark estimator, not a records-based projection. For someone with steady earnings over a long career, the estimate is usually within 10 to 20 percent of the real number. For people with very uneven earnings, gaps in work history, or fewer than 35 years of qualifying work, the estimate will be less accurate.
2026 bend points (the formula)
The Primary Insurance Amount formula for 2026 (approximately):
- 90 percent of the first $1,226 of your AIME
- 32 percent of AIME between $1,226 and $7,391
- 15 percent of AIME above $7,391
This creates a progressive structure where lower earners replace a larger share of their pre-retirement income. The bend points adjust every year for wage growth. Check ssa.gov for the current year's values.
Why claiming age matters so much
Full Retirement Age (FRA) for anyone born in 1960 or later is 67. You can claim as early as 62, but your monthly benefit is reduced by about 30 percent permanently. You can also delay past your FRA up to age 70, which adds 8 percent per year in delayed retirement credits. Waiting from 62 to 70 can roughly double your monthly benefit for the rest of your life.
The right claiming age depends on your health, your other retirement income, your spouse's situation, and your expected longevity. A common rule of thumb: claim early if you have health issues or no other income, claim at FRA if you need the money and expect average longevity, and delay to 70 if you can afford to wait and expect to live into your 80s or 90s. Talk to a financial planner before making this decision.
Important disclaimer
This calculator is for general informational purposes only. It is not financial advice, retirement planning advice, or tax advice. Actual Social Security benefits depend on your real earnings history, future wage indexing, future Cost of Living Adjustments, the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (if applicable), and other factors this tool does not consider. For an authoritative estimate, log into your account at ssa.gov/myaccount and use the official calculator. For personalized planning, consult a financial planner or fiduciary advisor.