Retirement · Social Security

Social Security Claiming Age Calculator

Compare claiming at 62, at full retirement age, or at 70: your monthly check at each age, total benefits over time, and when waiting may pay off.

Find it on your Social Security statement at ssa.gov/myaccount.

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Monthly benefit

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Full retirement age—
Break-even: 62 vs 70—
Break-even: FRA vs 70—

Every claiming age

Claim atMonthlyvs. FRATotal to 85

How it's calculated

Before full retirement age: −5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months early, −5/12 of 1% per month after that
After full retirement age: +2/3 of 1% per month (8% a year) until 70Break-even age = when the total from claiming later catches up with claiming earlier.

Worked example

Born 1960 or later (FRA 67) with a $2,200 full benefit: claiming at 62 pays $1,540 (60 months early = −30%); at 70 it pays $2,728 (+24%). Waiting from 62 to 70 breaks even at about age 80 and 5 months.

How claiming age changes your benefit

Your full benefit is set at your full retirement age (FRA): 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Claim earlier and the check is permanently smaller (as low as 70% at 62). Wait past FRA and it grows 8% a year until 70.

What's a break-even age?

Claiming early gets you more checks; waiting gets you bigger checks. The break-even age is when the total from waiting catches up. If you live past it, waiting would have paid more in total; if not, claiming earlier would have.

What this leaves out

For education only, not financial advice and not a recommendation of when to claim. Based on Social Security Administration reduction and delayed-credit rules. Your official estimate is at ssa.gov. Consider talking with a qualified professional before deciding.

Disclosures

Results are estimates for educational purposes only and are not financial, investment, tax or legal advice, or an offer of credit. They depend on the inputs and assumptions shown, and actual results will vary. High Label LLC is not a bank, lender, broker-dealer, investment adviser or tax preparer.

Uses 2026 U.S. federal rules and published figures (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, IRS Publication 590-B, Social Security Administration). State and local taxes and many individual circumstances are not included. Calcella is not affiliated with the IRS or the Social Security Administration.

This is not a recommendation of when to claim. Cost-of-living increases, spousal and survivor benefits, the earnings test and taxes on benefits are not included.

Calcella is operated by High Label LLC (California). We may earn money from ads and clearly labeled sponsored or affiliate links; this never changes how a calculator works or what it shows.