- Set up your online access. Begin by visiting my Social Security and setting up an online account. ...
- Review your earnings history. While you are still logged into your account, look for the link to your earnings history. ...
- Estimate your future earnings. The benefit estimate you see in your online account assumes your earnings will remain the same for the rest of your working years.
- Check different claiming ages. If you don't like the benefit estimate you see for claiming at 62, try testing other claiming ages. ...
- Know the impact of continuing to work. When you claim Social Security at 62, know that you are subject to a cap on wage income. ...
How to estimate your Social Security benefit?
Your Social Security benefit is decided based on your lifetime earnings and the age when 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.
How do you check your Social Security benefit?
Your Social Security Statement (Statement) is available to view online by opening a my Social Security account. It is useful for people of all ages who want to learn about their future Social Security benefits and current earnings history.
How do you calculate social security benefit?
The following factors go into the formula:
- How long you work
- How much you make each year
- Inflation
- At what age you begin taking your benefits
How does Social Security determine your benefits?
To sum it all up:
- Calculate Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). ...
- Apply the Social Security benefits formula to your AIME to calculate your primary insurance amount. ...
- Adjust your primary insurance amount based on cost-of-living increases for each year after you turn 62 but before retirement. ...
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 retirement estimate?
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.
Can you use the retirement estimate if you have blocked access to your personal information?
You cannot use the Retirement Estimator if you have blocked electronic access to your personal information.
Can you use the retirement estimate if you have enough Social Security?
You can use the Retirement Estimator if you have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits and you are not:
How are Social Security payments calculated?
Social Security payments are calculated using the 35 highest-earning years of your career and are adjusted for inflation. If you work for more than 35 years, your lowest-earning years are dropped from the calculation, which results in a higher payment.
What age do you have to be to get Social Security?
Your monthly Social Security benefit is reduced if you claim payments before your full retirement age, which is typically age 66 or 67, depending on your birth year.
What is the maximum Social Security benefit for 2021?
The maximum possible Social Security benefit for someone who retires at full retirement age is $3,148 in 2021. However, a worker would need to earn the maximum taxable amount, currently $142,800 for 2021, over a 35-year career to get this Social Security payment. [. See:
Can married couples claim Social Security?
Married couples have more claiming options. Married individuals are eligible for Social Security payments equal to 50% of the higher-earning spouse's payment if that's more than the payments based on their own work record. Spousal payments are reduced if you claim them before your full retirement age. You can also claim payments based on an ...
Can a spouse claim survivor benefits?
A spouse can also claim survivor's payments if the higher-earning spouse passes away first. Couples should coordinate when they claim payments to maximize their benefit as a couple and to potentially qualify for higher payments for a surviving spouse. Social Security Changes Coming in 2021.
When do you get your Social Security statement?
For workers age 60 and older who do not have a my Social Security account, we currently mail Social Security Statements three months prior to your birthday.
Why are fact sheets important for Social Security?
The fact sheets are designed to provide clarity and useful information, based on your age group and earnings situation. They can help you better understand Social Security programs and benefits.
What is SSI for disabled people?
We are with those who need a helping hand. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides support to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources, as well as people age 65 and older who are not disabled but have limited income and resources.
Why do we pay disability benefits to people who can't work?
We pay disability benefits to those who can’t work because they have a medical condition that’s expected to last at least one year or result in death. Find out how Social Security can help you and how you can manage your benefits. LEARN MORE.
How many retirement estimates does Quick Calculator give?
If you do not give a retirement date and if you have not reached your normal (or full) retirement age, the Quick Calculator will give benefit estimates for three different retirement ages.
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 ...
What does "0" mean in retirement?
If you entered 0, we assume you are now retired. Enter the last year in which you had covered earnings and the amount of such earnings.
How old do you have to be to use Quick Calculator?
You must be at least age 22 to use the form at right.
Why are retirement benefits unreliable?
Lack of a substantial earnings history will cause retirement benefit estimates to be unreliable.
What to do if you don't receive Social Security?
Get estimates for spouse’s benefits. Get proof that you do not receive benefits. Check your application status. Get your Social Security Statement.
What is a free Social Security account?
A free and secure my Social Security account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive. All from anywhere!
What is ID.me?
ID.me is a Single Sign-On provider that meets the U.S. government's most rigorous requirements for online identity proofing and authentication.
How to check Social Security benefits?
Begin by visiting my Social Security and setting up an online account. Once you log in, you'll see your projected benefits at three claiming ages: 62, your full retirement age (FRA), and 70. The benefit amount shown for age 62 might be the answer you need, but there are a few extra things you should do to verify its accuracy.
What is Social Security online account?
Your online account at my Social Security is a powerful tool that'll tell you what benefit you'll get at 62. It's also handy for tracking your earnings and estimating your benefits under different scenarios. Once you dive in and start exploring the value of delaying Social Security, you may even decide to extend your timeline. And then you can start daydreaming about more pleasant things, like a comfortable and relaxing retirement.
What happens to Social Security at 62?
5. Know the impact of continuing to work. When you claim Social Security at 62, know that you are subject to a cap on wage income. For every $2 you earn above the cap, your Social Security benefit is reduced by $1. The cap changes annually, but it's $18,960 in 2021.
How much is the reduction for Social Security?
When you claim early, your benefit is reduced according to the number of months until you reach FRA. For the first 36 months, the monthly reduction is five-ninths of 1%. For any months beyond 36, the monthly reduction is five-twelfths of 1%. Delaying your claim for even one month translates to higher Social Security income, because you reduce the number of monthly reductions applied to your benefit.
How many years of work do you need to be to get Social Security?
The Social Security formula only considers your highest-paid 35 years of working, so any issues in your lower-wage years may not be relevant. If you see any mistakes, gather up W-2 forms, pay stubs, or tax returns showing your correct wages.
What is the Social Security cap at 62?
For every $2 you earn above the cap, your Social Security benefit is reduced by $1. The cap changes annually, but it's $18,960 in 2021.