Social Security Benefits Calculator
See how claiming Social Security early or late changes your monthly benefit.
Enter your numbers and select Calculate to see results.
About This Calculator
This calculator shows how your Social Security benefit changes depending on when you claim it, relative to your full retirement age (FRA). Claiming before FRA permanently reduces your benefit; delaying past FRA (up to age 70) permanently increases it. Enter your estimated benefit at full retirement age to see the effect of claiming earlier or later.
How This Is Calculated
Adjusted Benefit = Benefit at FRA × Claiming Age Adjustment Factor
- Early claiming (before FRA)
- — Reduces benefit by roughly 5/9% to 5/12% per month early
- Delayed claiming (after FRA)
- — Increases benefit by about 8% per year, up to age 70
A $2,200 benefit at FRA (67) becomes about $1,540 if claimed at 62, or about $2,728 if delayed to age 70.
Assumptions
- Assumes a Full Retirement Age of 67, which applies to people born in 1960 or later — earlier birth years have a slightly younger FRA.
- Uses simplified average adjustment rates; the SSA calculates adjustments in exact monthly increments.
- Does not account for cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) between now and your claiming date.
- Does not account for spousal or survivor benefits, which have separate rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated January 15, 2026. Results are estimates for informational purposes only — read our disclaimer.