🏛️ Social Security Calculator
Estimate your Social Security retirement benefit with the 2026 PIA formula and compare claiming at every age from 62 to 70.
Quick answer: Someone born in 1966 who earned about $70,000 a year has an AIME of $5,833 and a primary insurance amount of $2,612.40 under the 2026 formula – about $1,828 a month if they claim at 62, $2,612 at full retirement age 67 and $3,239 at 70.
Updated · Free · No sign-up · Works on any device
Social Security Calculator inputs
Result
Monthly benefit at 67
$2,612 / month
$31,344 a year · 100% of your full benefit
| Average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) | $5,833 |
| Primary insurance amount (PIA) | $2,612.40 |
| Full retirement age | 67 |
| Benefit at 67 | $2,612 |
- At full retirement age
- $2,612
- At 62 (earliest)
- $1,828
- At 70 (maximum)
- $3,239
In today's dollars using 2026 bend points; future cost-of-living increases are not included. Estimating AIME as salary ÷ 12 assumes 35 years of similar, wage-indexed earnings.
Benefit by claiming age
| Claim at | % of full benefit | Monthly | Yearly | Total by age 85 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 70% | $1,828 | $21,936 | $504,528 |
| 63 | 75% | $1,959 | $23,508 | $517,176 |
| 64 | 80% | $2,089 | $25,068 | $526,428 |
| 65 | 86.67% | $2,264 | $27,168 | $543,360 |
| 66 | 93.33% | $2,438 | $29,256 | $555,864 |
| 67 | 100% | $2,612 | $31,344 | $564,192 |
| 68 | 108% | $2,821 | $33,852 | $575,484 |
| 69 | 116% | $3,030 | $36,360 | $581,760 |
| 70 | 124% | $3,239 | $38,868 | $583,020 |
Your PIA formula (2026 bend points)
| Portion of AIME | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First $1,286 | 90% | $1,157.40 |
| $1,286 – $7,749 | 32% | $1,455.04 |
| Over $7,749 | 15% | $0.00 |
How to use the Social Security calculator
- Enter your birth year – it sets your full retirement age (FRA).
- Enter your average annual earnings, or switch to AIME if you know it from your Social Security statement.
- Pick the age you plan to start benefits. The table below the result compares every age from 62 to 70.
The formula
PIA = 90% × first $1,286 of AIME + 32% × AIME from $1,286 to $7,749 + 15% × AIME above $7,749
The PIA is rounded down to the dime. Claiming early multiplies it by 1 − 5/9% per month (first 36 months) − 5/12% per additional month; claiming late multiplies it by 1 + 2/3% per month up to age 70. Monthly benefits are rounded down to the dollar.
Worked example
Born in 1966 (FRA 67) with average earnings of $70,000: AIME ≈ $70,000 ÷ 12 = $5,833 (rounded down to the dollar). PIA = 90% × $1,286 + 32% × ($5,833 − $1,286) = $1,157.40 + $1,455.04 = $2,612.44, rounded down to the dime: $2,612.40.
- Claim at 62 (60 months early): 70% → $1,828 a month
- Claim at 67: 100% → $2,612 a month
- Claim at 70 (36 months late): 124% → $3,239 a month
Full retirement age and claiming percentages
| Born | FRA | At 62 | At 70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943–1954 | 66 | 75% | 132% |
| 1955 | 66 + 2 months | 74.17% | 130.67% |
| 1957 | 66 + 6 months | 72.5% | 128% |
| 1959 | 66 + 10 months | 70.83% | 125.33% |
| 1960 and later | 67 | 70% | 124% |
The salary shortcut caps earnings at the 2026 taxable maximum of $184,500 and assumes 35 years of work; fewer years, career gaps or very uneven earnings will lower your real AIME. Spousal, survivor and disability benefits, the earnings test and taxation of benefits are not modelled.
Sources: SSA Office of the Chief Actuary – 2026 PIA bend points, contribution and benefit base, and retirement-age reduction rules (ssa.gov).
Estimates for educational purposes, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is my Social Security benefit calculated?
SSA averages your highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings into AIME, then applies the PIA formula: 90% of the first $1,286, 32% up to $7,749 and 15% above that (2026 bend points). Claiming before or after full retirement age then reduces or increases that amount.
What is my full retirement age?
Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. It is 66 for those born 1943–1954, rising by two months a year for births in 1955–1959 (e.g. 66 and 6 months for 1957).
How much less do I get if I claim at 62?
Benefits fall by 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months before full retirement age and 5/12 of 1% for each extra month. With a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 pays 70% of your full benefit.
How much more do I get by waiting until 70?
Delayed retirement credits add 8% a year (2/3 of 1% a month) after full retirement age until 70. With a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 70 pays 124% of your full benefit. There is no gain from waiting past 70.
Is this the same as my SSA estimate?
It is an approximation. Your actual benefit uses your real earnings record, the bend points for the year you turn 62 and cost-of-living adjustments. Check your statement at ssa.gov/myaccount for your official estimate.