
Step 1: Calculate Your Monthly Earnings
- Calculate Your Monthly Earnings Your Social Security benefit calculation starts by looking at how long you worked and how much you made each year. ...
- Calculate Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) Once you have calculated your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), you'll plug that number into a formula to determine your Primary Insurance ...
- Adjust Your PIA for the Age You Will Begin Benefits
How do I estimate my SS Benefits?
You may want to may want to consider using my company's software — Maximize My Social Security or MaxiFi Planner — to ensure your household receives the highest lifetime benefits. Social Security calculators provided by other companies or non-profits may provide proper suggestions if they were built with extreme care. Best, Larry
How to calculate your projected Social Security benefit?
- For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings up to $926, you’ll get 90 cents per month in benefits.
- For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings between $927 and $5,583 you’ll get $.32 cents per month in benefits.
- For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings beyond $5,583 you’ll get $.15 cents per month in benefits.
How do you estimate Social Security benefits?
You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security benefits card, check the status of an existing application, estimate how many future benefits you’ll receive or manage the ones you are already getting. One of the most important reasons ...
How do I determine my social security benefit?
Try refreshing the page. Today's Social Security column addresses questions about how Social Security spousal benefits are calculated, whether it's necessary to file in January to get a given year's COLA and what effects of benefits rates not paying taxes can have.

How do you find out how much Social Security you will get when you retire?
Estimate Your Benefits If you have a personal my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your personalized retirement benefits and see the effects of different retirement age scenarios. If you don't have a personal my Social Security account, create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Is Social Security based on the last 5 years of work?
A: Your Social Security payment is based on your best 35 years of work. And, whether we like it or not, if you don't have 35 years of work, the Social Security Administration (SSA) still uses 35 years and posts zeros for the missing years, says Andy Landis, author of Social Security: The Inside Story, 2016 Edition.
What is the formula for figuring out Social Security benefits?
If you turn 62 in 2019, the bend points to use in your Social Security benefits formula are $926 and $5,583....4. Apply the Social Security benefits formula to AIME.YearFirst Bend PointSecond Bend Point2018$895$5,3972019$926$5,5834 more rows•Aug 23, 2019
How much Social Security will I get if I make 60000 a year?
That adds up to $2,096.48 as a monthly benefit if you retire at full retirement age. Put another way, Social Security will replace about 42% of your past $60,000 salary. That's a lot better than the roughly 26% figure for those making $120,000 per year.
Is it better to take Social Security at 62 or 67?
The short answer is yes. Retirees who begin collecting Social Security at 62 instead of at the full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later) can expect their monthly benefits to be 30% lower. So, delaying claiming until 67 will result in a larger monthly check.
How much will I get from Social Security if I make $30000?
1:252:31How much your Social Security benefits will be if you make $30,000 ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou get 32 percent of your earnings between 996. Dollars and six thousand and two dollars whichMoreYou get 32 percent of your earnings between 996. Dollars and six thousand and two dollars which comes out to just under 500 bucks.
How much Social Security will I get if I make $40000 a year?
Those who make $40,000 pay taxes on all of their income into the Social Security system. It takes more than three times that amount to max out your Social Security payroll taxes. The current tax rate is 6.2%, so you can expect to see $2,480 go directly from your paycheck toward Social Security.
How much Social Security will I get if I make 80000 a year?
Initial Social Security retirement benefits by age and income levelAnnual Income (Inflation-Adjusted)Age 62Age 70$60,000$1,554$2,741$70,000$1,695$2,990$80,000$1,787$3,152$90,000$1,879$3,3135 more rows•Aug 21, 2018
How the Retirement Estimator Works
The Retirement Estimator calculates a benefit amount for you based on your actual Social Security earnings record. Please keep in mind that these are just estimates.
Who Can Use the Retirement Estimator
You can use the Retirement Estimator if you have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits and you are not:
How Long Can You Stay On Each Page?
For security reasons, there are time limits for viewing each page. You will receive a warning if you don’t do anything for 25 minutes, but you will be able to extend your time on the page.
Benefit Calculators
The best way to start planning for your future is by creating a my Social Security account online. With my Social Security, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more – all from the comfort of your home or office.
Online Benefits Calculator
These tools can be accurate but require access to your official earnings record in our database. The simplest way to do that is by creating or logging in to your my Social Security account. The other way is to answer a series of questions to prove your identity.
Additional Online Tools
Find your full retirement age and learn how your monthly benefits may be reduced if you retire before your full retirement age.
What is the formula for Social Security benefits?
The Social Security benefits formula is designed to replace a higher proportion of income for low-income earners than for high-income earners. To do this, the formula has what are called “bend points." These bend points are adjusted for inflation each year.
How is Social Security decided?
Your Social Security benefit is decided based on your lifetime earnings and the age you retire and begin taking payments. Your lifetime earnings are converted to a monthly average based on the 35 years in which you earned the most, adjusted for inflation. Those earnings are converted to a monthly insurance payment based on your full retirement age.
What is wage indexing?
Social Security uses a process called wage indexing to determine how to adjust your earnings history for inflation. Each year, Social Security publishes the national average wages for the year. You can see this published list on the National Average Wage Index page. 3 .
Is Social Security higher at age 70?
If you have already had most of your 35 years of earnings, and you are near 62 today, the age 70 benefit amount you see on your Social Security statement will likely be higher due to these cost of living adjustments .
Can you calculate inflation rate at 60?
Until you know the average wages for the year you turn 60, there is no way to do an exact calculation. However, you could attribute an assumed inflation rate to average wages to estimate the average wages going forward and use those to create an estimate.
What is the benefit estimate?
Benefit estimates depend on your date of birth and on your earnings history. For security, the "Quick Calculator" does not access your earnings record; instead, it will estimate your earnings based on information you provide. So benefit estimates made by the Quick Calculator are rough. Although the "Quick Calculator" makes an initial assumption ...
How old do you have to be to file for Social Security?
You must be at least age 22 to use the form at right. Lack of a substantial earnings history will cause retirement benefit estimates to be unreliable. Enter your date of birth ( month / day / year format) / /. Enter earnings in the current year: $. Your annual earnings must be earnings covered by Social Security.
How old do you have to be to use Quick Calculator?
You must be at least age 22 to use the form at right.
How much do retirees rely on Social Security?
Most retirees rely on Social Security. One in four gets 90% of their retirement income from the program. About half rely on it for 50% of their income. 1. Although Social Security is only one part of a secure retirement plan, it's helpful to get a rough idea of how much you can expect. If you're eligible for Social Security, ...
What is the monthly benefit of Social Security?
If you're eligible for Social Security, your monthly benefit is based on two factors: How much money you earned during your working career. The age you choose to start getting payments. Let's look at how each of these affects your future Social Security income.
How many credits do you need to qualify for spousal benefits?
2. You may be entitled to a spousal benefit because of your partner's work history. If your spouse, ex-spouse, or deceased spouse has earned 40 credits, you may qualify.
How much will FICA be in 2021?
The same threshold applies to both your earnings and your benefits. This amount is $142,800 in 2021. 5.
How does Social Security affect retirement?
Social Security benefits in retirement are impacted by three main criteria: the year you were born, the age you plan on electing (begin taking) benefits and your annual income in your working years. First we take your annual income and we adjust it by the Average Wage Index (AWI), to get your indexed earnings.
How long do you have to be a Social Security employee to get full benefits?
Anyone who pays into Social Security for at least 40 calendar quarters (10 years) is eligible for retirement benefits based on their earnings record. You are eligible for your full benefits once you reach full retirement age, which is either 66 and 67, depending on when you were born.
What age do you have to be to claim Social Security?
If you claim Social Security benefits early and then continue working, you’ll be subject to what’s called the Retirement Earnings Test. If you’re between age 62 and your full retirement age, and you’re claiming benefits, you need to know about the Earnings Test Exempt Amount, a threshold that changes yearly.
How long do I have to work to get Social Security?
To get your social security benefits we do a couple things. First we assume that you have or will work for 35 years before electing social security benefits (this is needed to calculate your benefits) We then take your income and we adjust it by the Average Wage Index (AWI), to account for the rise in the standard of living during your working ...
How much will Social Security be in 2052?
starting in 2052 at age 66: $48,771. The earliest you can begin receiving benefits is at age 62. Spouse's annual Social Security benefit. The earliest you can begin receiving benefits is at age 62. Social Security Benefits Accounting for Inflation: 1st year of benefits through age 95.
Does Social Security protect against inflation?
That means the retirement income you collect from Social Security has built-in protection against inflation. For many people, Social Security is the only form of retirement income they have that is directly linked to inflation. It’s a big perk that doesn’t get a lot of attention.
Is Social Security a tax?
You may hear people grumbling about the Social Security “Earnings Tax”, but it’s not really a tax. It’s a deferment of your benefits designed to keep you from spending too much too soon. And after you hit your full retirement age, you can work to your heart’s content without any reduction in your benefits.
What is the retirement system?
Traditionally, the retirement system in the U.S. has been a three-legged stool: Social Security , savings and pensions. Social Security was never intended to be the sole source of income for retirement.
Can Social Security increase if you wait to collect?
Payments don’t increase if you wait to collect past 70. Your marital status can also be a factor. For example, if you were divorced after 10 years of marriage, you may be able to base your Social Security payments on your ex-spouse’s salary. This calculator estimates Social Security benefits for single people who have never been married, ...
