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Social Security Calculator 2026: what will your monthly check be?

Estimate your retirement benefit at every claiming age from 62 to 70, using the Social Security Administration's own formula with the official 2026 bend points and the 2.8% COLA. No signup — your numbers never leave your browser.

$4,152/moMaximum 2026 benefit at full retirement age
$5,181/moMaximum 2026 benefit at age 70
~$1,976/moAverage retired worker's benefit, 2026
2.8%2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)

Estimate your benefit

Enter your birth year and your typical career earnings. Results update as you type.

Sets your full retirement age (FRA).
Your typical pay across your career, in today's dollars.
Social Security uses your highest 35 years — fewer years means zeros are averaged in.
YOUR FULL RETIREMENT AGE67
YOUR BENEFIT AT FRA (PIA)$0 /mo
REPLACES THIS SHARE OF YOUR PAY0%
Claim at ageMonthly benefitPer year% of full benefitTotal by age 85

How this estimate works: we average your earnings into an AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings), then apply the official 2026 PIA formula — 90% of the first $1,286 of AIME, 32% of AIME from $1,286 to $7,749, 15% above $7,749. Claiming before your FRA reduces the benefit (5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months, 5/12 of 1% beyond); delaying past FRA adds 2/3 of 1% per month (8%/yr) up to age 70. Like the SSA's own Quick Calculator, this tool assumes steady earnings in today's dollars and does not index past wages year by year, so estimates for very high earners can run a few percent above the official maximums. Lifetime totals are in today's dollars and assume equal COLAs, which do not change break-even ages.

Sources: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet · SSA PIA formula · SSA early/late claiming rules. For your official record, check your statement at ssa.gov.

Next: what will Medicare take out of that check?

Part B premiums are usually deducted from your Social Security payment. Estimate your 2026 Medicare costs — premiums, IRMAA surcharges and out-of-pocket exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

How is my Social Security benefit calculated?

Social Security averages your 35 highest years of earnings into an Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), then applies the PIA formula: 90% of the first $1,286 of AIME, 32% of AIME between $1,286 and $7,749, and 15% above $7,749 (2026 bend points). The result is your Primary Insurance Amount — the benefit you receive at full retirement age.

How much is my benefit reduced if I claim at 62?

If your full retirement age is 67 (born 1960 or later), claiming at 62 cuts your benefit by 30% for life. The reduction is 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months you claim early, plus 5/12 of 1% for each additional month.

How much more do I get if I wait until 70?

For every month you delay past full retirement age, your benefit grows by 2/3 of 1% — 8% per year — up to age 70. With a full retirement age of 67, waiting to 70 pays 124% of your PIA.

What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2026?

For a worker who earned the taxable maximum throughout their career, the maximum monthly benefit in 2026 is about $2,969 at age 62, $4,152 at full retirement age (67), and $5,181 at age 70.

What is the 2026 Social Security COLA?

The cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 is 2.8%, applied to benefits starting January 2026.