About this calculator
Claiming Social Security early means smaller checks for life; waiting means larger ones but fewer years of them. This calculator compares claiming at 62, full retirement age, and 70 on a lifetime-benefit basis, with break-even ages, so the decision rests on total dollars and longevity — not guesswork.
What it shows you
- Monthly benefit at each claiming age
- Cumulative lifetime benefit by claiming strategy
- The break-even age between early and delayed claiming
- How longevity changes the optimal choice
- How spousal timing factors into the decision
Why it matters
The claiming decision is worth tens of thousands of dollars and cannot be undone. Walking a client through the break-even math is high-stakes advice that cements a long-term relationship.