When should you claim Social Security?
Enter your full-retirement-age benefit (from your my Social Security statement) and the calculator shows the monthly check at every claiming age from 62 to 70, the lifetime total to your life expectancy, and the break-even age between any two choices. 2027 rules: 3.6% COLA, maximum benefit at full retirement age $4,188/mo, earnings test $25,560/yr ($2,130/mo).
You
Result
$0
0%of your full benefit
$0lifetime total to your life expectancy
—best age for that life expectancy
—your full retirement age
Every claiming age
| Claim at | Monthly (today's $) | % of full | Lifetime to 85 | Break-even vs 62 | Break-even vs FRA |
|---|
Lifetime totals apply your COLA and discount the stream back to today at the real rate, so they are comparable. Monthly amounts are in today's dollars before the COLA.
Cumulative benefits by age
Three lines: claim at 62, at full retirement age, at 70. Where a later line crosses an earlier one is the break-even age.
2027 figures
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable maximum (Social Security tax stops here) | $184,500 | $192,300 |
| Quarter of coverage (earnings for one credit) | $1,890 | $1,970 |
| Earnings test, under full retirement age ($1 withheld per $2 over) | $24,480/yr ($2,040/mo) | $25,560/yr ($2,130/mo) |
| Earnings test, year you reach full retirement age ($1 per $3 over) | $65,160/yr ($5,430/mo) | $67,920/yr ($5,660/mo) |
| Maximum benefit, worker retiring at full retirement age | $4,152/mo | $4,188/mo |
| SSI federal payment, individual | $994/mo | $1,029/mo |
| SSI federal payment, couple | $1,491/mo | $1,544/mo |
| Substantial gainful activity, non-blind | $1,690/mo | $1,770/mo |
| Substantial gainful activity, blind | $2,830/mo | $2,950/mo |
| Trial work period month | $1,210/mo | $1,270/mo |
| SSI student exclusion, monthly / annual | $2,410 / $9,730 | $2,500 / $10,080 |
| Employee tax rate (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%) | 7.65% | 7.65% |
| PIA bend points (90% / 32% / 15%) | $1,286 / $7,749 | $1,340 / $8,077 |
COLA 3.6% for 2027 (announced 2026-10-14). COLA page.
Rules the calculator applies
- Full retirement age: 66 for 1943 to 1954 births, rising two months per year to 67 for 1960 and later.
- Early claiming: minus 5/9% a month for the first 36 months, minus 5/12% a month beyond; 62 pays 70% (FRA 67) or 75% (FRA 66).
- Delayed credits: plus 2/3% a month (8% a year) from FRA to 70; nothing after 70.
- Spouses: a spousal benefit is up to 50% of the worker's full amount, reduced if the spouse claims before their own FRA, and never earns delayed credits; survivors keep the larger check, which is the usual case for the higher earner waiting.
- Taxes and Medicare: up to 85% of benefits are taxable above $34,000 single / $44,000 joint (not indexed); Medicare Part B is deducted from the check from 65 whatever you do about claiming.
- Not modelled: the earnings test (a deferral), the Windfall rules (repealed 2025), disability conversion.