Social Security Benefits Estimator

Estimate Social Security benefits from earnings history. See PIA calculation and benefits at 62, 67, and 70.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: SSA — PIA formula bend points

$

At Age 62

$1,922.00/mo

At Age 67 (FRA)

$2,745.00/mo

At Age 70

$3,404.00/mo

Benefit Estimates

Avg Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)$6,250.00
Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)$2,745.80
Monthly at Age 62$1,922.00
Monthly at Age 67 (FRA)$2,745.00
Monthly at Age 70$3,404.00
Your Selected (Age 67)$2,745.00
Annual Benefit$32,940.00

Lifetime Benefits (to Age 85)

Claim at 62 (23 years)$530,472.00
Claim at 67 (18 years)$592,920.00
Claim at 70 (15 years)$612,720.00
Recommendation: Delaying to 70 maximizes total lifetime benefits if you live to 85.

Use the Social Security Benefits Estimator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Your full earnings history is what drives a Social Security benefit estimate, and this tool projects that retirement income for you. The point is to show how decades of contributions translate into monthly benefits at different claiming ages, so you can plan with a clearer view of what to expect.

The math follows the Social Security Administration's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) formula. SSA draws your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) from your highest 35 years of indexed earnings. This calculator approximates that from four inputs: it treats your current earnings, capped at the $184,500 taxable maximum, as the indexed amount for every year you will have worked by the retirement age you pick, up to 35, and counts any missing years as zeros. The 2026 bend points then apply: 90% of the first $1,286 of AIME, 32% of AIME between $1,286 and $7,749, and 15% of AIME over $7,749, which together produce your PIA. The benefit at 62 is reduced by 30% and the benefit at 70 raised by 24%, the statutory adjustments for a full retirement age of 67.

Treat the output as an estimate, since future legislative changes or additional years of earnings can move the actual number. The factor people most often overlook is claiming age, which reshapes the monthly benefit dramatically; waiting past the earliest eligibility can add up to substantially more income over a lifetime.

Example: Sarah's Social Security Estimate

  1. 1 Input: Sarah is 45, earns $75,000 a year, has worked 20 years and plans to claim at 67.
  2. 2 Years counted: 20 worked + 22 more until 67 = 42, capped at 35. AIME = $75,000 × 35 ÷ 420 months = $6,250.
  3. 3 PIA with the 2026 bend points: 90% × $1,286 = $1,157.40, plus 32% × ($6,250 − $1,286) = $1,588.48, for $2,745.88, which SSA rounds down to the dime ($2,745.80) and pays as $2,745 a month at 67.
  4. 4 Claiming age: at 62 the benefit is cut by 30% (36 months × 5/9 of 1% plus 24 months × 5/12 of 1%), giving $1,922; at 70 delayed credits add 24%, giving $3,404 (each rounded down to the dollar). Counted to age 85, lifetime benefits come to $530,472 from 62, $592,920 from 67 and $612,720 from 70.
  5. 5 The estimate is at 2026 wage and benefit levels and treats Sarah's current pay as her career average. Her Social Security Statement at ssa.gov uses her actual earnings record.

Source: SSA — PIA formula bend points · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will I get from Social Security in 2026?
After the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment, SSA puts the average retirement benefit at about $2,071 a month for 2026. The maximum at full retirement age is $4,152 a month, and SSA's examples reach about $5,181 for someone claiming at 70 this year. Most people land far closer to the average than the maximum, because the maximum needs 35 years at the taxable ceiling.
When should I start claiming Social Security?
Claiming at 62 permanently reduces your benefit by about 30%. Waiting until 70 increases it by 24% above your full retirement age amount. Break-even is typically around age 80, so if you expect to live past 80, waiting pays off.
How does Social Security turn my earnings history into a benefit amount?
Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation, to calculate your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is then determined by applying bend points to your AIME.

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