Social Security Calculators & Timing Tools
Decide when to claim Social Security with confidence — compare claiming ages, find your break-even point, and see how your choice affects lifetime income.
When should you claim Social Security?
The claiming age tradeoff
You can start Social Security as early as age 62 or as late as age 70. Claiming early means smaller monthly checks, but you receive them for more years. Claiming late means larger checks, but you collect for fewer years.
Neither choice is universally better — it depends on your health, other income sources, and how long you expect to live.
The 5/9% per month reduction
For every month before your full retirement age (FRA) that you claim, your benefit is reduced by 5/9% per month for the first 36 months, then 5/12% per month beyond that. Claiming at 62 instead of FRA 67 can reduce your benefit by up to 30%.
Delayed retirement credits
For every month after your FRA that you delay, your benefit grows by 2/3% (8%/year). Waiting until age 70 instead of FRA 67 increases your benefit by 24%. After age 70, no further credits accrue — so there is no benefit to waiting past 70.
Your full retirement age (FRA)
FRA depends on your birth year: age 66 for those born 1943–1954, gradually increasing to age 67 for those born 1960 or later. Your break-even calculation uses your FRA to compute exact benefit amounts at each claiming age.