Use these tables to estimate your Social Security benefits and find the optimal claiming age.
Social Security Benefit Estimator
Disclaimer: This is an estimate based on a simplified formula using your average annual earnings. Your actual Social Security benefit is calculated by SSA using your complete 35-year earnings history, adjusted for wage inflation. For a personalized estimate, create a free account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
For a full claiming strategy, benefit formulas, and planning checklist, start with the Social Security master guide.
Estimated Monthly Benefits by Career Earnings
If You Claim at Full Retirement Age (67)
| Average Annual Earnings | Estimated Monthly Benefit | Annual Benefit | Replacement Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $1,279 | $15,348 | 76.8% |
| $30,000 | $1,546 | $18,552 | 61.8% |
| $40,000 | $1,813 | $21,756 | 54.4% |
| $50,000 | $2,079 | $24,948 | 49.9% |
| $60,000 | $2,346 | $28,152 | 46.9% |
| $75,000 | $2,746 | $32,952 | 43.9% |
| $100,000 | $3,313 | $39,756 | 39.8% |
| $125,000 | $3,626 | $43,512 | 34.8% |
| $150,000 | $3,938 | $47,256 | 31.5% |
| $184,500+ (2026 max taxable, 35-yr max earner) | $4,152 | $49,824 | ~27.0% |
*Rows for $20,000–$150,000 apply the 2026 PIA bend-point formula directly to a flat AIME (annual salary ÷ 12) for illustration. The bottom row uses the SSA-published actual 2026 maximum benefit, which reflects 35 years of earnings at each year’s historical wage base rather than this year’s cap applied uniformly.
Social Security replaces a larger percentage of income for lower earners (progressive benefit formula).
Benefits by Claiming Age
How Claiming Age Affects Your Monthly Check
| Claiming Age | % of Full Benefit | Monthly Benefit (Avg Earner) | Monthly Benefit (High Earner, near-max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 70.0% | $1,450 | $2,969 (published 2026 max) |
| 63 | 75.0% | $1,553 | $3,114 |
| 64 | 80.0% | $1,657 | $3,322 |
| 65 | 86.7% | $1,796 | $3,600 |
| 66 | 93.3% | $1,932 | $3,874 |
| 67 (FRA) | 100.0% | $2,071 | $4,152 |
| 68 | 108.0% | $2,237 | $4,484 |
| 69 | 116.0% | $2,402 | $4,816 |
| 70 | 124.0% | $2,568 | $5,181 (published 2026 max) |
*“Avg Earner” applies standard claiming-age percentages to the 2026 average retired-worker benefit of $2,071. “High Earner” columns for 62, 67, and 70 use the SSA-published 2026 maximum benefits; the 63–66 and 68–69 high-earner figures are estimated by applying the standard percentages to the $4,152 maximum-at-FRA figure.
Monthly Difference: Early vs Late Claiming
| Comparison | Monthly Difference | Annual Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Age 62 vs 67 | -$621/month | -$7,456/year |
| Age 62 vs 70 | -$1,118/month | -$13,420/year |
| Age 67 vs 70 | -$497/month | -$5,964/year |
Lifetime Benefits by Claiming Age
Total Benefits Received by Various Ages
| Death Age | Claim at 62 | Claim at 67 | Claim at 70 | Best Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | $139,200 | $74,556 | $0 | Claim at 62 |
| 75 | $226,200 | $198,816 | $154,080 | Claim at 62 |
| 78 | $278,400 | $273,372 | $246,528 | Claim at 62 |
| 80 | $313,200 | $323,076 | $308,160 | Claim at 67 |
| 82 | $348,000 | $372,780 | $369,792 | Claim at 67 |
| 85 | $400,200 | $447,336 | $462,240 | Claim at 70 |
| 90 | $487,200 | $571,596 | $616,320 | Claim at 70 |
| 95 | $574,200 | $695,856 | $770,400 | Claim at 70 |
Based on the 2026 average retired-worker benefit of $2,071 at FRA ($1,450 at 62, $2,568 at 70), with no COLA compounding applied. Claiming at 67 overtakes claiming at 62 around age 79-80; claiming at 70 overtakes claiming at 67 around age 82-83.
Breakeven Ages
| Comparison | Breakeven Age |
|---|---|
| Age 62 vs Age 67 | ~79 |
| Age 62 vs Age 70 | ~80 |
| Age 67 vs Age 70 | ~82-83 |
If you expect to live past the breakeven age, delaying pays more in total lifetime benefits.
Spousal Benefits
A spouse can receive up to 50% of the worker’s full-retirement-age benefit, or 32.5% if claimed at 62 when full retirement age is 67. Survivor benefits can reach 100% of the deceased’s benefit. See spousal benefits and survivor benefits.
Social Security Taxation
The estimates above are before federal income tax. Depending on your other income, part of your benefit (never more than 85%) may be taxable; the Social Security tax guide shows how to work it out.
Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
Recent COLA History
| Year | COLA | Average Benefit Before | Average Benefit After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.8% | $2,015 | $2,071 |
| 2025 | 2.5% | ~$1,965 | $2,015 |
*Only the 2025 and 2026 COLA percentages and dollar amounts were independently re-verified this session. See Social Security COLA History for the full historical record.
When to Claim: Decision Framework
| Claim Early (62-64) If… | Wait (67-70) If… |
|---|---|
| Poor health / short life expectancy | Good health / family longevity |
| Need the income to cover basic expenses | Have other income to bridge the gap |
| Going to invest the benefits aggressively | Want guaranteed lifetime income increase |
| Have a much-higher-earning spouse (their survivor benefit matters more) | Are the higher earner (max survivor benefit for spouse) |
| Unemployed and exhausted savings | Still working (benefits reduced before FRA) |
Earnings Test (If Working Before FRA)
| Situation | Earnings Limit | Benefit Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Under FRA for full year | $24,480 (2026) | $1 withheld per $2 over limit |
| Year you reach FRA | $65,160 (2026) | $1 withheld per $3 over limit |
| FRA and above | No limit | No reduction |
Benefits withheld before FRA are returned through higher monthly payments after FRA — they’re not lost permanently.
Social Security Trust Fund Status
| Metric | 2026 Trustees Report |
|---|---|
| Retirement and survivors (OASI) fund depletion | 2032 (fourth quarter) |
| Benefits payable after OASI depletion | about 78% of scheduled benefits |
| Combined OASDI funds depletion (hypothetical) | 2034 |
| Benefits payable after combined depletion | about 83% of scheduled benefits |
| Workers per beneficiary (1960) | 5.1 |
| Workers per beneficiary (2024, approx.) | ~2.7 |
| Workers per beneficiary (2035, projected) | ~2.3 |
What this means: Even the worst-case scenario (Congress does nothing) still provides roughly three-quarters to four-fifths of promised benefits, not zero. Historically, Congress has always intervened before trust fund depletion. Plan conservatively but don’t skip Social Security in your calculations.
For more on Social Security, see the Social Security hub.
For more on Social Security, see the Social Security hub.
Related Social Security Guides
- Average Social Security benefit by state
- How do I know if I qualify for Social Security?
- How to apply for Social Security
- Can you collect unemployment and Social Security?
- Social Security phone number
- Finding or replacing your Social Security number
- Social Security for married couples
- Divorced spouse benefits
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