Estimate your retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for 2024-2025
Enter Your Information
Enter year between 1929 and 2006
54 years
Your current salary or self-employment income
Minimum 10 years (40 quarters) required for eligibility
Note: This calculator provides estimates only. For official calculations, consult your Social Security Statement at SSA.gov.
Your Estimated Social Security Benefits
Estimated Monthly Benefit at Retirement
$2,850
Starting at age 67
Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)$2,850
Full Retirement Age (FRA)67 years
Early Retirement Reduction0%
Delayed Retirement Credits0%
Estimated Annual Benefit$34,200
Lifetime Estimate (to age 85)$615,600
Recommendation: Based on your inputs, claiming at age 70 would maximize your lifetime benefits.
Benefits by Claiming Age
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Calculator
To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain period. Use this calculator to estimate potential disability benefits.
Survivor Benefits Calculator
Estimate benefits for surviving spouses, children, and dependents. Survivor benefits can be claimed by family members of deceased workers who qualified for Social Security.
Advanced Social Security Calculations
Includes calculations for: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), Government Pension Offset (GPO), COLA projections, spousal benefits, and more.
Social Security Benefits Calculator - Complete Guide 2024
Our Social Security Calculator helps you estimate your retirement, disability, and survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This comprehensive tool uses the same formulas as the SSA to provide accurate projections of your future benefits based on your earnings history, age, and planned retirement date.
How Social Security Benefits Are Calculated
The Social Security Administration uses a complex formula to determine your benefits:
Step 1: Calculate Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) - Your highest 35 years of earnings are indexed for inflation and averaged.
Step 2: Apply Bend Points - The formula uses three "bend points" to calculate your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).
Step 3: Adjust for Claiming Age - Benefits are reduced for early retirement (before Full Retirement Age) and increased for delayed retirement (up to age 70).
Key Factors Affecting Your Social Security Benefits
Earnings Record
Your 35 highest-earning years determine your benefit amount. Higher lifetime earnings mean higher benefits.
Claiming Age
Claiming at 62 reduces benefits by 30%, while waiting until 70 increases them by 32% above FRA.
Full Retirement Age
FRA is 66-67 depending on birth year. This is when you receive 100% of your calculated benefit.
Cost-of-Living Adjustments
Benefits increase annually with COLA to keep pace with inflation.
2024 Social Security Updates
COLA Increase: 3.2% for 2024 (up from 8.7% in 2023)
Maximum Taxable Earnings: $168,600 (up from $160,200)
Full Retirement Age: 67 for those born 1960 or later
Maximum Monthly Benefit: $4,873 at Full Retirement Age
Earnings Test Limit: $22,320 for those under Full Retirement Age
Strategies to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits
1. Delay Claiming Until Age 70: Each year you delay past FRA increases your benefit by 8% until age 70.
2. Coordinate with Spouse: Consider spousal benefits and survivor benefits when planning.
3. Continue Working: Additional high-earning years can replace low-earning years in your 35-year calculation.
4. Check Your Earnings Record: Regularly verify your Social Security statement for accuracy.
Social Security Calculator Features
Retirement Benefit Estimation: Calculate your monthly and lifetime benefits
Age Comparison: See how claiming age affects your benefit amount
Spousal Benefits: Estimate benefits for married couples
Survivor Benefits: Calculate benefits for surviving family members
Disability Benefits: Estimate SSDI payments
Tax Implications: Understand how benefits are taxed
The optimal age depends on your health, life expectancy, and financial needs. While you can claim as early as 62, waiting until 70 maximizes monthly benefits. Use our calculator to compare different scenarios.
How is Social Security calculated if I haven't worked 35 years?
If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, zero-income years are included in the calculation, which reduces your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings and thus your benefits.
Can I work and collect Social Security at the same time?
Yes, but if you're below Full Retirement Age, your benefits may be reduced if you earn above the earnings test limit ($22,320 in 2024). After reaching FRA, there are no earnings limits.
How much Social Security will I get if I make $100,000 a year?
For someone earning $100,000 annually who retires at Full Retirement Age, estimated monthly benefits would be approximately $2,800-$3,200, depending on work history and exact birth year.
What happens to my Social Security if I die?
Survivor benefits may be available to your spouse, children, or dependent parents. The amount depends on your earnings record and their ages/relationships.
Important Social Security Terms
PIA (Primary Insurance Amount): Your benefit amount at Full Retirement Age
AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings): Average of your highest 35 years of earnings
FRA (Full Retirement Age): Age at which you receive 100% of your PIA
COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustment): Annual increase to maintain purchasing power
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance): Benefits for disabled workers
WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision): Reduces benefits for those with pensions from non-covered employment
Disclaimer: This Social Security calculator provides estimates only. Actual benefits may vary based on your complete earnings history, changes in law, and other factors. This tool is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration. For official information and personalized calculations, visit SSA.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.