About the Social Security Calculator
This calculator estimates your Social Security retirement benefit based on your earnings record and claiming age. You get an estimated monthly benefit amount plus a yearly total for your chosen start date.
The tool follows the standard Social Security method: it converts your earnings history into Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), applies the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) formula with its bend points, and adjusts the result for early or delayed claiming. You enter your birth year, annual earnings, and planned claiming age. Benefits rise for each year you wait past full retirement age because delayed retirement credits increase the payout. For decisions that shape decades of income, consider talking to a financial professional.
- Enter your birth year and your annual earnings for each working year.
- Select the age at which you plan to claim benefits.
- Compare the estimated monthly amounts, then adjust your claiming age to see the difference.