How to Calculate Social Security
What is Social Security?
Social Security retirement benefits are based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the monthly benefit you receive at Full Retirement Age (FRA). Claiming early reduces your benefit permanently; claiming late (up to age 70) increases it by 8% per year.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Full Retirement Age (FRA) is 67 for those born after 1959
- 2Claim at 62: benefit reduced by up to 30%
- 3Claim at 70: benefit increased by 24% above FRA amount
- 4Increase rate: +8% per year (0.667% per month) for each year delayed past FRA
- 5Break-even point between early and late claiming: typically age 77–82
Worked Examples
Input
PIA $2,000/month, claim at 62
Result
$1,400/month (−30%)
Lower but 5 more years of payments
Input
PIA $2,000/month, claim at 70
Result
$2,480/month (+24%)
Maximum lifetime benefit if you live past ~82
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