Retirement income planning
Social Security Retirement Benefits
Understand key claiming concepts and compare simple scenarios using your own estimated monthly benefit at full retirement age.
Retirement eligibility
Most workers generally need 40 Social Security credits to qualify for retirement benefits. Credits are based on covered work and may differ for some circumstances.
Full retirement age
Full retirement age is between 66 and 67, depending on birth year. The exact age may include additional months.
Early or delayed claiming
Claiming before full retirement age generally reduces the monthly amount; delaying can raise it up to age 70. The impact depends on your birth year and circumstances.
What affects the estimate?
Benefit estimates reflect lifetime covered earnings—typically the highest 35 years—and claiming age. Work history, future earnings, benefit rules and cost-of-living adjustments also matter.
Illustrative comparison
Compare claiming scenarios
Enter the monthly benefit shown in your own Social Security estimate for full retirement age. This tool applies simplified claiming adjustments to that amount—it does not estimate your benefit from age alone.
Early claim Claim at age 62
Illustrative monthly amount — of your FRA estimate
Full retirement age At full retirement age
Illustrative monthly amount —Your estimated FRA
Delayed claim Claim at age 70
Illustrative monthly amount — of your FRA estimate
Amounts are simplified illustrations based on the estimate you entered and current general claiming adjustments. Actual Social Security benefits can differ.
This comparison is for educational purposes only and is not an official SSA estimate, benefit determination, or financial advice. It does not use your earnings record, account data, exact birth date, family situation, taxes, Medicare premiums, or all program rules. For personalized estimates and eligibility, review your Social Security Statement or the official SSA resource above.
Retirement income planning
Social Security Retirement Benefits
Understand key claiming concepts and compare simple scenarios using your own estimated monthly benefit at full retirement age.
Retirement eligibility
Most workers generally need 40 Social Security credits to qualify for retirement benefits. Credits are based on covered work and may differ for some circumstances.
Full retirement age
Full retirement age is between 66 and 67, depending on birth year. The exact age may include additional months.
Early or delayed claiming
Claiming before full retirement age generally reduces the monthly amount; delaying can raise it up to age 70. The impact depends on your birth year and circumstances.
What affects the estimate?
Benefit estimates reflect lifetime covered earnings—typically the highest 35 years—and claiming age. Work history, future earnings, benefit rules and cost-of-living adjustments also matter.
Illustrative comparison
Compare claiming scenarios
Enter the monthly benefit shown in your own Social Security estimate for full retirement age. This tool applies simplified claiming adjustments to that amount—it does not estimate your benefit from age alone.
For this illustration, use the previous birth year if you were born on January 1. The estimate of your full retirement age is based on year of birth and may not reflect exact birthday-month rules.
Claim at age 62
Illustrative monthly amount— of your FRA estimate
At full retirement age
Illustrative monthly amount—Your estimated FRA
Claim at age 70
Illustrative monthly amount— of your FRA estimate
Amounts are simplified illustrations based on the estimate you entered and current general claiming adjustments. Actual Social Security benefits can differ.
Global Premier Insurance LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration.
This comparison is for educational purposes only and is not an official SSA estimate, benefit determination, or financial advice. It does not use your earnings record, account data, exact birth date, family situation, taxes, Medicare premiums, or all program rules. For personalized estimates and eligibility, review your Social Security Statement or the official SSA resource above.