Social Security worksheet

1. Monthly benefit claiming at 70: $2,908.79

1. Work out your full benefit (PIA) from your average earnings with the 2026 formula. You get 90% of the first $1,286.00, 32% of the part from there up to $7,749.00 and 15% of anything above, rounded down to the dime

   $\mathrm{90\%}\times \mathrm{\$1,286.00}+\mathrm{32\%}\times \mathrm{\$3,714.00}$$=\mathrm{\$2,345.80}$

2. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 2000, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

3. Claiming at your age (70) is 36 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $36\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{24\%}$

4. Find the monthly check if you claim at 70: 124% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,345.80}\times \mathrm{124\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,908.79}$

5. Find the monthly check if you claim at 67: 100% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,345.80}\times \mathrm{100\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,345.80}$

6. Find the break-even age, in months: when the total from claiming at 70 catches up with the total from claiming at 67

   $\frac{\mathrm{\$2,908.79}\times 840-\mathrm{\$2,345.80}\times 804}{\mathrm{\$2,908.79}-\mathrm{\$2,345.80}}$$=990$

2. Monthly benefit claiming at 70: $1,891.00

1. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 2000, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

2. Claiming at your age (70) is 36 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $36\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{24\%}$

3. Find the monthly check if you claim at 70: 124% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$1,525.00}\times \mathrm{124\%}$$=\mathrm{\$1,891.00}$

3. Monthly benefit claiming at 62: $2,179.66

1. Work out your full benefit (PIA) from your average earnings with the 2026 formula. You get 90% of the first $1,286.00, 32% of the part from there up to $7,749.00 and 15% of anything above, rounded down to the dime

   $\mathrm{90\%}\times \mathrm{\$1,286.00}+\mathrm{32\%}\times \mathrm{\$6,114.00}$$=\mathrm{\$3,113.80}$

2. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 2000, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

3. Claiming at your age (62) is 60 months early, so the benefit is cut. It loses 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for each of the other 24

   $36\times \frac{5}{9}+24\times \frac{5}{12}$$=\mathrm{30\%}$

4. Find the monthly check if you claim at 62: 70% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$3,113.80}\times \mathrm{70\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,179.66}$

5. The comparison age (70) is 36 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $36\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{24\%}$

6. Find the monthly check if you claim at 70: 124% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$3,113.80}\times \mathrm{124\%}$$=\mathrm{\$3,861.11}$

7. Find the break-even age, in months: when the total from claiming at 70 catches up with the total from claiming at 62

   $\frac{\mathrm{\$3,861.11}\times 840-\mathrm{\$2,179.66}\times 744}{\mathrm{\$3,861.11}-\mathrm{\$2,179.66}}$$=964.44$

4. Monthly benefit claiming at 65: $1,686.36

1. Work out your full benefit (PIA) from your average earnings with the 2026 formula. You get 90% of the first $1,286.00, 32% of the part from there up to $7,749.00 and 15% of anything above, rounded down to the dime

   $\mathrm{90\%}\times \mathrm{\$1,286.00}+\mathrm{32\%}\times \mathrm{\$2,464.00}$$=\mathrm{\$1,945.80}$

2. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 1964, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

3. Claiming at your age (65) is 24 months early, so the benefit is cut. It loses 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 24 months

   $24\times \frac{5}{9}$$=\mathrm{13.3333\%}$

4. Find the monthly check if you claim at 65: 86.6667% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$1,945.80}\times \mathrm{86.6667\%}$$=\mathrm{\$1,686.36}$

5. The comparison age (70) is 36 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $36\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{24\%}$

6. Find the monthly check if you claim at 70: 124% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$1,945.80}\times \mathrm{124\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,412.79}$

7. Find the break-even age, in months: when the total from claiming at 70 catches up with the total from claiming at 65

   $\frac{\mathrm{\$2,412.79}\times 840-\mathrm{\$1,686.36}\times 780}{\mathrm{\$2,412.79}-\mathrm{\$1,686.36}}$$=979.29$

5. Monthly benefit claiming at 67: $1,997.78

1. Work out your full benefit (PIA) from your average earnings with the 2026 formula. You get 90% of the first $1,286.00, 32% of the part from there up to $7,749.00 and 15% of anything above, rounded down to the dime

   $\mathrm{90\%}\times \mathrm{\$1,286.00}+\mathrm{32\%}\times \mathrm{\$2,164.00}$$=\mathrm{\$1,849.80}$

2. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 1950, yours is 66

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=792$

3. Claiming at your age (67) is 12 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $12\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{8\%}$

4. Find the monthly check if you claim at 67: 108% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$1,849.80}\times \mathrm{108\%}$$=\mathrm{\$1,997.78}$

5. The comparison age (70) is 48 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $48\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{32\%}$

6. Find the monthly check if you claim at 70: 132% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$1,849.80}\times \mathrm{132\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,441.74}$

7. Find the break-even age, in months: when the total from claiming at 70 catches up with the total from claiming at 67

   $\frac{\mathrm{\$2,441.74}\times 840-\mathrm{\$1,997.78}\times 804}{\mathrm{\$2,441.74}-\mathrm{\$1,997.78}}$$=\mathrm{1,002}$

6. Monthly benefit claiming at 67: $2,025.80

1. Work out your full benefit (PIA) from your average earnings with the 2026 formula. You get 90% of the first $1,286.00, 32% of the part from there up to $7,749.00 and 15% of anything above, rounded down to the dime

   $\mathrm{90\%}\times \mathrm{\$1,286.00}+\mathrm{32\%}\times \mathrm{\$2,714.00}$$=\mathrm{\$2,025.80}$

2. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 2000, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

3. Find the monthly check if you claim at 67: 100% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,025.80}\times \mathrm{100\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,025.80}$

4. The comparison age (62) is 60 months early, so the benefit is cut. It loses 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for each of the other 24

   $36\times \frac{5}{9}+24\times \frac{5}{12}$$=\mathrm{30\%}$

5. Find the monthly check if you claim at 62: 70% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,025.80}\times \mathrm{70\%}$$=\mathrm{\$1,418.06}$

6. Find the break-even age, in months: when the total from claiming at 67 catches up with the total from claiming at 62

   $\frac{\mathrm{\$2,025.80}\times 804-\mathrm{\$1,418.06}\times 744}{\mathrm{\$2,025.80}-\mathrm{\$1,418.06}}$$=944$

7. Monthly benefit claiming at 62: $1,540.00

1. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 2000, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

2. Claiming at your age (62) is 60 months early, so the benefit is cut. It loses 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for each of the other 24

   $36\times \frac{5}{9}+24\times \frac{5}{12}$$=\mathrm{30\%}$

3. Find the monthly check if you claim at 62: 70% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,200.00}\times \mathrm{70\%}$$=\mathrm{\$1,540.00}$

8. Monthly benefit claiming at 67: $1,800.00

1. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 2000, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

2. Find the monthly check if you claim at 67: 100% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$1,800.00}\times \mathrm{100\%}$$=\mathrm{\$1,800.00}$

3. The comparison age (62) is 60 months early, so the benefit is cut. It loses 5/9 of 1% for each of the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for each of the other 24

   $36\times \frac{5}{9}+24\times \frac{5}{12}$$=\mathrm{30\%}$

4. Find the monthly check if you claim at 62: 70% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$1,800.00}\times \mathrm{70\%}$$=\mathrm{\$1,260.00}$

5. Find the break-even age, in months: when the total from claiming at 67 catches up with the total from claiming at 62

   $\frac{\mathrm{\$1,800.00}\times 804-\mathrm{\$1,260.00}\times 744}{\mathrm{\$1,800.00}-\mathrm{\$1,260.00}}$$=944$

9. Monthly benefit claiming at 70: $3,100.00

1. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 1964, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

2. Claiming at your age (70) is 36 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $36\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{24\%}$

3. Find the monthly check if you claim at 70: 124% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,500.00}\times \mathrm{124\%}$$=\mathrm{\$3,100.00}$

10. Monthly benefit claiming at 67: $2,345.80

1. Work out your full benefit (PIA) from your average earnings with the 2026 formula. You get 90% of the first $1,286.00, 32% of the part from there up to $7,749.00 and 15% of anything above, rounded down to the dime

   $\mathrm{90\%}\times \mathrm{\$1,286.00}+\mathrm{32\%}\times \mathrm{\$3,714.00}$$=\mathrm{\$2,345.80}$

2. Find your full retirement age, which depends on your birth year. Born in 2000, yours is 67

   $\text{full retirement age in months}$$=804$

3. Find the monthly check if you claim at 67: 100% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,345.80}\times \mathrm{100\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,345.80}$

4. The comparison age (70) is 36 months after full retirement age, so the benefit grows. It gains 2/3 of 1% for each month you wait

   $36\times \frac{2}{3}$$=\mathrm{24\%}$

5. Find the monthly check if you claim at 70: 124% of your full benefit

   $\mathrm{\$2,345.80}\times \mathrm{124\%}$$=\mathrm{\$2,908.79}$

6. Find the break-even age, in months: when the total from claiming at 70 catches up with the total from claiming at 67

   $\frac{\mathrm{\$2,908.79}\times 840-\mathrm{\$2,345.80}\times 804}{\mathrm{\$2,908.79}-\mathrm{\$2,345.80}}$$=990$