Retirement Social Security Claiming Age Optimizer
Choosing when to claim Social Security dramatically affects your lifetime benefits. Enter your full retirement age (FRA) monthly benefit and expected lifespan to see which claiming age maximizes your total payout.
About this calculator
Compare cumulative lifetime Social Security benefits across different claiming ages (62-70) based on your full retirement age benefit and life expectancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do benefits reduce if I claim early?
Claiming before your Full Retirement Age (typically 67) reduces benefits by about 5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months early, and 5/12 of 1% per month beyond that.
How much do benefits increase if I delay?
Delaying past Full Retirement Age increases your benefit by about 2/3 of 1% per month (8% per year) up until age 70, when the increases stop.
What life expectancy should I use?
Consider your health, family history, and average U.S. life expectancy (around 80-85) to get a realistic comparison, and try multiple ages to see the break-even point.