Will It Last?

⚠ Educational only — not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates, not guarantees, and may contain errors; we accept no responsibility for them. Read the full disclaimer.

When should I claim Social Security?

Enter your benefit at full retirement age to see your monthly check at every age from 62 to 70, how much you’d collect in total by the age you choose, and the break-even age when waiting starts to pay more. Free, no sign-up, and nothing you enter leaves your browser.

How your claiming age changes your benefit

You can start Social Security retirement benefits at any age from 62 to 70. Your full benefit is the amount at your full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Claiming earlier permanently lowers every check; waiting past full retirement age permanently raises it.

  • Before full retirement age: 5/9 of 1% less for each month early, for the first 36 months, then 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond that. At 62 that’s 30% less: 70% of your full benefit.
  • After full retirement age: delayed retirement credits add 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait, 8% a year, up to age 70. At 70 that’s 124% of your full benefit.
  • Every year after, benefits rise with inflation (the cost-of-living adjustment), whichever age you claim.

The break-even age

Claiming early gets you more checks; waiting gets you bigger ones. The break-even age is when the bigger checks have made up for the ones you skipped. Adding up the payments, waiting from 62 to 70 breaks even at about age 80, and from 67 to 70 at about 82½. If you live past the break-even age, waiting pays more in total, and the gap keeps growing for the rest of your life.

If you’d invest early benefits (or use them so your savings stay invested), the money you get sooner is worth a little more, which pushes the break-even age later. The calculator above lets you set that return.

When claiming early or late can make sense

  • Waiting often makes sense if you’re healthy, expect to live into your late 80s or beyond, can cover your costs from savings or work until then, or are the higher earner in a married couple.
  • Claiming earlier can make sense if your health or family history points to a shorter life, you need the income now, or you have no other way to pay your bills.
  • A bigger, inflation-adjusted check is insurance against living a long time or a market downturn: it can’t run out.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I find my benefit at full retirement age?

Sign in to my Social Security (linked below). Your statement shows your estimated monthly benefit at 62, at your full retirement age and at 70, based on your earnings record.

What if I’m married?

A spouse can receive up to half of your full-retirement-age benefit, and that spousal amount doesn’t grow if you wait past full retirement age. But when one of you dies, the survivor keeps the larger of the two benefits, including any delayed retirement credits. That’s why the higher earner waiting often protects the surviving spouse. This calculator is for one person; the free retirement planner handles couples and survivor benefits.

Can I work and claim before full retirement age?

Yes, but if your earnings are over a yearly limit, Social Security temporarily withholds some benefits. They’re added back to your benefit once you reach full retirement age. After full retirement age there’s no limit.

Are Social Security benefits taxed?

Up to 85% of your benefit can be federally taxable, depending on your other income; some states tax it too. See IRS Publication 915 below. The amounts on this page are before tax.

Does claiming age change Medicare?

No. Medicare starts at 65 whenever you claim Social Security. If you haven’t claimed yet, you sign up for Medicare yourself.

Sources

Benefit rules from the Social Security Administration. Last reviewed November 1, 2026.