Free Social Security Calculator 2026 - When to Claim Social Security
Calculate your Social Security benefits at age 62, 67, and 70 with our free Social Security benefits calculator. Compare claiming strategies to maximize your lifetime Social Security benefits and optimize when to claim Social Security. Find out the best age to claim Social Security for your situation.
Your average indexed monthly earnings (simplified calculation)
Important Note: This is a simplified calculation. Actual Social Security benefits depend on your complete 35-year earnings history, indexed for inflation. For accurate benefit estimates, use the officialmy Social Security account or theSocial Security Retirement Estimator at SSA.gov.
When Should You Claim Social Security?
Age 62 (Early Retirement): You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your benefits will be permanently reduced by up to 30%. This reduction is about 5/9% per month for the first 36 months before full retirement age, then 5/12% per month for additional months. Claiming early makes sense if you need income immediately or have health concerns.(Source: SSA.gov)
Full Retirement Age (FRA): Your full retirement age depends on your birth year. For those born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. Claiming at FRA gives you 100% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). This is the standard claiming age for most people.(Source: SSA.gov)
Age 70 (Delayed Retirement): You can delay claiming Social Security until age 70 and receive delayed retirement credits of 8% per year (2/3% per month). This can increase your benefits by up to 24% compared to claiming at FRA. Delaying is best if you expect to live beyond age 78-80.(Source: SSA.gov)
Which Age is Best? Generally, if you expect to live beyond the breakeven age (typically around 78-80), delaying Social Security provides more lifetime benefits. However, claiming early may make sense if you need the income immediately or have health concerns. Our calculator shows the breakeven point for different claiming strategies. Read our detailed Social Security claiming strategies guide.
Official Sources: Social Security benefit calculations, full retirement age, and claiming strategies are based onSSA.gov (Social Security Administration). For accurate benefit estimates, use the officialmy Social Security account or theSocial Security Retirement Estimator.
Frequently Asked Questions - Social Security Calculator
The best age to claim Social Security depends on your health, financial needs, and life expectancy. Generally, if you expect to live beyond age 78-80, delaying until age 70 provides more lifetime benefits. If you need income immediately or have health concerns, claiming at 62 may make sense. Our calculator shows the breakeven point for different claiming ages.
Full retirement age (FRA) depends on your birth year. For those born in 1960 or later, FRA is 67. For those born between 1955-1959, FRA gradually increases from 66 to 67. For those born before 1955, FRA is 66. Claiming at FRA gives you 100% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). For official FRA information, visitSSA.gov.
If you claim Social Security at age 62 (before full retirement age), your benefits are permanently reduced by up to 30%. The reduction is about 5/9% per month for the first 36 months before FRA, then 5/12% per month for additional months. Our calculator shows your exact benefit reduction.
If you delay claiming Social Security until age 70, you receive delayed retirement credits of 8% per year (2/3% per month). This can increase your benefits by up to 24% compared to claiming at full retirement age. Our calculator shows the exact benefit increase.