Social Security Calculator Estimate retirement benefits, compare claiming ages, and plan for spousal, survivor, and tax i...
Social Security Calculator
Estimate retirement benefits, compare claiming ages, and plan for spousal, survivor, and tax impacts — with 2025 SSA rules.
Step 1: AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings)**
- Take 35 highest-earning years (inflation-adjusted)
- Average → monthly figure
Step 2: PIA (Primary Insurance Amount)** = benefit at Full Retirement Age (FRA)
$$\text{PIA} = 90\% \times \min(\text{AIME}, 1174) + 32\% \times \max(0, \min(\text{AIME}-1174, 5904)) + 15\% \times \max(0, \text{AIME} - 7078)$$
Example: AIME = $5,000 • 90% × $1,174 = $1,056.60 • 32% × ($5,000 − $1,174) = $1,224.32 • 15% × $0 = $0 → **PIA = $2,280.92/mo at FRA**
⚠️ Avoid these costly mistakes:
- Claiming early without spousal coordination** — reduces survivor benefit permanently
- Ignoring the earnings test** — $1 withheld for every $2 earned over $23,400 (if
- “File-and-suspend” myth** — eliminated in 2015; no longer possible
- Breakeven obsession** — 82 is *not* a magic number; consider health, liquidity, portfolio
✅ Pro Tips**:
- Delay to 70 if healthy, married, or have other income sources
- Use restricted application** (born before 1/2/1954) to claim spousal only, delay own
- Claim early *only* if health issues, urgent cash need, or low lifetime earnings
| Scenario | Monthly Benefit | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Worker (FRA) | $1,907 | $22,884 |
| Max at 70 | $4,886 | $58,632 |
| Low Earner ($30K/yr) | $1,045 | $12,540 |
| Spousal (50% of $2,800) | $1,400 | $16,800 |
📉 Delayed Credits** (born 1960+):
- Claim at 62: **70% of PIA**
- Claim at 67 (FRA): **100% of PIA**
- Claim at 70: **124% of PIA**
📉 Taxation Rules**:
- Single: < $25K → 0% taxed; $25K–$34K → up to 50%; >$34K → up to 85%
- MFJ: < $32K → 0%; $32K–$44K → up to 50%; >$44K → up to 85%
➡️ Retirement Benefit
Enter AIME (from SSA statement) or estimate from earnings → get PIA and age-adjusted benefits.
➡️ Claiming Age
“If my FRA is $2,200, what do I get at 62 vs. 70?” — with breakeven analysis.
➡️ Spousal/Survivor
Model 50% spousal or 100% survivor benefits — critical for couples.
➡️ Tax & Earnings
See how much of your SS is taxable — and how work affects early benefits.
Note: Uses 2025 bend points ($1,174 / $7,078), 8% delayed credits, and SSA taxation rules.