Social Security Benefits Calculator 2026
Estimate your monthly Social Security retirement benefit from your average earnings using the 2026 formula — and compare claiming at 62, full retirement age, or 70.
For information and education only — not financial advice. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter; check important decisions with a qualified professional.
How to use
- 1Enter your birth year and average yearly earnings over your top 35 years (in today's dollars).
- 2Pick the age you plan to claim.
- 3Compare monthly and lifetime benefits at each claiming age.
How it's calculated
AIME = average indexed yearly earnings ÷ 12. Benefit at full retirement age (PIA) = 90% of the first $1,286 + 32% up to $7,749 + 15% above (2026 bend points). Claiming early cuts it by 5/9% per month (5/12% beyond 36 months); waiting past full retirement age adds 2/3% per month until 70.
Frequently asked questions
What is my full retirement age?
67 if you were born in 1960 or later; 66 plus 2 months per year for 1955–1959.
How accurate is this?
It's a good estimate if your earnings were fairly steady. For your real number, sign in to my Social Security at ssa.gov, which uses your actual earnings record.
What's the maximum benefit in 2026?
$4,152 a month at full retirement age for someone who earned the taxable maximum every year ($5,181 at 70).
Can I work while collecting?
Before full retirement age, $1 is withheld for every $2 earned above $24,480 in 2026 ($1 per $3 above $65,160 in the year you reach it). Withheld benefits are credited back later.