Tools Social Security Claiming Age Calculator
When should I claim Social Security?
You can start Social Security retirement benefits any time from 62 to 70. Claim early and every check is smaller for life; wait and every check is bigger. Enter your birth year and your benefit at full retirement age to see your check at each age, the lifetime total each pays, and the break-even age when waiting comes out ahead.
Your result
| Claiming age | Share of full benefit | Monthly | Lifetime total |
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What to focus on next
How this calculator works
Monthly benefit = benefit at full retirement age × (1 − early reduction + delayed credits)
Your full retirement age (FRA) comes from your birth year: 66 for 1943–1954, two months later for each year from 1955 to 1959, and 67 for 1960 or later. Claiming before FRA cuts your benefit by 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months early and 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond that, so with an FRA of 67, claiming at 62 pays 70% of your full benefit. Waiting past FRA adds 2/3 of 1% a month (8% a year) until 70, so the same person gets 124% at 70.
The lifetime total is your monthly check times the months from your claiming age to the life expectancy you enter. The break-even age is when the bigger checks from waiting have added up to as much as the earlier, smaller checks; it doesn’t depend on the size of your benefit.
Everything is in today’s dollars: Social Security raises benefits each year with a cost-of-living adjustment, so the comparison holds in real terms. The calculator leaves out taxes, the earnings test if you work while claiming before FRA, spousal and survivor benefits, and investment returns on early checks. SSA rounds benefits down to the dime, so its figures may differ by a few cents.
Words you’ll see
- Full retirement age (FRA)
- The age at which you get 100% of your retirement benefit. It is 66 to 67 depending on your birth year.
- Primary insurance amount (PIA)
- Your monthly benefit if you claim exactly at full retirement age. Your Social Security statement shows an estimate.
- Delayed retirement credits
- The 8% a year added to your benefit for each year you wait past full retirement age, up to 70.
- Break-even age
- The age at which the total from claiming later catches up with the total from claiming earlier.
- Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
- The yearly increase that keeps Social Security benefits in step with inflation.
- Survivor benefit
- A payment to a widow or widower based on the deceased spouse’s record. A later claim by the higher earner usually means a bigger survivor check.
Common questions
What is the best age to claim Social Security?
There is no single best age: it depends mostly on how long you expect to live and whether you need the income now. Claiming at 70 pays the biggest check and usually the most in total if you live into your mid-80s or beyond, while claiming at 62 pays more in total if you die before your late 70s. If you are married, also weigh survivor benefits, because the higher earner's claiming age affects what a surviving spouse receives.
How much does Social Security go up if I wait until 70?
For anyone born in 1943 or later, each year you wait past full retirement age adds 8% to your monthly benefit, up to age 70. With a full retirement age of 67 that is 24% more at 70, and with a full retirement age of 66 it is 32% more. Credits stop at 70, so there is no gain from waiting longer.
How much less do I get if I claim at 62?
If your full retirement age is 67, claiming at 62 pays 30% less each month, for life. If your full retirement age is 66, the cut is 25%. The reduction is 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months before full retirement age and 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond that.
What is my full retirement age?
Your full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954, rises by two months for each year from 1955 to 1959, and is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later. For example, someone born in 1957 reaches full retirement age at 66 and 6 months. If you were born on January 1, use the year before.
What is the Social Security break-even age?
It is the age at which the bigger checks from waiting make up for the checks you skipped. With a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 70 overtakes claiming at 62 at about age 80 and 4 months, and claiming at 67 overtakes 62 at about 78 and 8 months. If you expect to live past the break-even age, waiting pays more in total.
Sources
- Retirement benefits: Starting your retirement benefits early — U.S. Social Security Administration
- Delayed retirement credits — U.S. Social Security Administration
- my Social Security: your personal Social Security account — U.S. Social Security Administration
This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.