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Social Security Calculator

Find the claiming age from 62 to 70 that pays the most over your life, or the break-even age between two claiming ages.

Change the values and press Calculate to work out your own figures.

Best age to claim

Enter your birth year, life expectancy, return and COLA.

For example 1951.
Age to plan to.
Before tax.
0 if blank; Social Security's 2026 COLA was 2.8%.
From your Social Security statement; $1,000 if blank.
Result
Best age to claim
Age 68
Full retirement age
67 years
Benefit at that age
$1,080.00 a month (today's money)
Currency
US dollars (US rules)

Claiming at 68 pays the most over your life, valued at age 62.

Claiming ages compared
AgeOf full benefitA monthLifetime value at 62
6270%$700.00$142,719.66
6375%$750.00$144,147.80
6480%$800.00$144,585.22
6586.67%$866.67$146,886.46
6693.33%$933.33$147,888.03
67100%$1,000.00$147,628.70
68108%$1,080.00$147,973.05
69116%$1,160.00$146,853.32
70124%$1,240.00$144,313.26
Show the working
  1. early: −5/9% a month for 36 months, −5/12% a month beyond
  2. delayed: +2/3% a month to age 70
  3. value at 62 = Σ benefit × (1 + COLA)^years ÷ (1 + monthly return)^months

Compare two ages

Enter two claiming ages and their benefits.

For example 62.
From your statement.
For example 70.
From your statement.
Before tax.
Changes how amounts are shown, not the math; your choice is remembered on this device.
0 if blank; Social Security's 2026 COLA was 2.8%.
Result
Break-even
Age 99 years 4 months
Starting at 62
$1,600.00 a month
Starting at 70
$2,810.00 a month

Claiming at 70 pays more in total if you live past 99 years 4 months.

Show the working
  1. running totals of both options, each payment valued at the earlier start age

How to use it

Enter your birth year, life expectancy, return and COLA. Enter two claiming ages and their benefits.

Enter amounts without commas or with them; rates are percentages (5 for 5%). Negative amounts are allowed where a sign means money paid out.

Key facts

benefit = full benefit × (1 − early reduction) or × (1 + delayed credits)
value at 62 = Σ monthly benefit × (1 + COLA)^years ÷ (1 + monthly return)^months

Full retirement age

67 if born in 1960 or later; 66 and some months for 1955–1959. Claiming at 62 then pays 70% of the full benefit, and at 70 124%.

Questions

How much less is Social Security at 62?

30% less if your full retirement age is 67.

Reviewed by RK Calculator Team. Updated 2026-09-26.

Formulas

benefit = full benefit × (1 − early reduction) or × (1 + delayed credits)
value at 62 = Σ monthly benefit × (1 + COLA)^years ÷ (1 + monthly return)^months

Sources

Limitations

  • Results are estimates for planning, not offers or financial advice; lenders and banks may round, count days or time payments differently.
  • Rates are nominal annual rates compounded as you choose; payments at a different frequency use the equivalent periodic rate.

Formula version 0.1.0Reviewed