Social Security Benefits Calculator

How this Social Security calculator works

Enter three things — your year of birth, your average annual earnings, and the age you plan to claim — and the calculator estimates your monthly benefit using Social Security’s own formula. It’s fast, private, and requires no login. Add a spouse to also estimate spousal and survivor benefits.

How your benefit is actually calculated

Social Security takes your 35 highest-earning years, indexes them for wage growth, and averages them into a monthly figure called your AIME (average indexed monthly earnings). It then applies the bend-point formula to get your PIA (primary insurance amount) — the benefit you’d receive at full retirement age. For 2026 the formula is:

• 90% of the first $1,286 of AIME
• 32% of AIME between $1,286 and $7,749
• 15% of AIME above $7,749

Only earnings up to the $184,500 wage base count toward your benefit each year. Because the formula replaces a bigger share of a lower earner’s income, Social Security is progressive by design.

How your claiming age changes your check

Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Claim at 62 and your benefit is permanently reduced by about 30%; wait past full retirement age and you earn delayed retirement credits of about 8% per year up to 70. See when to claim Social Security for how to weigh the trade-off.

Beyond retirement: spousal, survivor & disability

Your earnings record can also support other benefits. Read up on spousal benefits, the basics of Social Security disability (SSDI), and how to appeal a decision if your claim is denied.

Frequently asked questions

How does this Social Security calculator work?

You enter your birth year, your average annual earnings, and the age you plan to claim. The tool runs Social Security’s official PIA (primary insurance amount) formula using the current bend points, then adjusts for your claiming age to estimate your monthly benefit. It can also estimate spousal and survivor benefits.

How accurate is the estimate?

It’s a close approximation, not an official figure. The calculator uses a single average-earnings number instead of your full 35-year indexed earnings record, so your real benefit will differ. For your exact estimate, sign in to your free my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount.

How is my Social Security benefit actually calculated?

Social Security averages your 35 highest-earning years (indexed for wage growth) into a monthly figure called your AIME, then applies the bend-point formula to get your PIA — the benefit you’d receive at full retirement age. Claiming earlier or later adjusts that amount.

How much does claiming age change my benefit?

Claiming at 62 (the earliest) permanently reduces your benefit by about 30% versus full retirement age. Waiting past full retirement age earns delayed retirement credits of about 8% per year up to age 70, which can raise your benefit by roughly 24%.

Is there an official Social Security calculator?

Yes. The Social Security Administration’s my Social Security account (ssa.gov/myaccount) shows a personalized estimate based on your actual earnings record. This tool is a fast, private way to model scenarios without logging in.

Can it estimate spousal and survivor benefits?

Yes — click “Add a spouse” to include estimated spousal and survivor benefits. A spousal benefit can be worth up to 50% of the higher earner’s full benefit; a survivor benefit can be up to 100%.