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Estimate your Social Security benefits
Get an educational estimate of your retirement benefit in under a minute, then compare claiming ages and plan with confidence.
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- Uses the 2026 SSA benefit formula
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Quick Benefit Estimate
An educational estimate in seconds.
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2027 COLA Update
OfficialSSA announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027.
Multiply your current monthly benefit by this percentage to see your gross increase.
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Use our free calculators to explore your options.
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Featured Guides
Plain-language guides to help you make informed decisions.
When to Claim Social Security: 62 vs 67 vs 70
Compare your options and find the best age for your situation.
Read guide
Full Retirement Age by Birth Year
Find your exact full retirement age and how it affects your benefit.
Read guide
How COLA Affects Your Benefits
Learn how cost-of-living adjustments work and what to expect in 2027.
Read guide
Delayed Retirement Credits Explained
See how much more you can get by waiting past full retirement age.
Read guideCompare Your Options
Side-by-side comparisons to help you choose.
62 vs 67 vs 70
Compare monthly benefits at three claiming ages.
View comparisonBreak-even age
See when waiting for a bigger check pays off.
View comparisonSSI vs SSDI
Understand the key differences between the two programs.
View comparisonSpousal vs your own benefit
Learn how spousal benefits compare with your own record.
View comparisonLatest Articles
Stay updated with the latest news and insights.
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2027 Social Security COLA Is 3.6%: What It Means for Your Check
Social Security COLA History: 10 Years of Record Highs & 2027 Lessons
Social Security Earnings Test Limit: How Working in Retirement Affects Your Benefits
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
What is the full retirement age?
It depends on your birth year. For people born in 1960 or later it is 67. For people born from 1955 to 1959 it rises from 66 and 2 months to 66 and 10 months.
Check your full retirement ageHow much will I get at age 62?
Claiming at 62 permanently reduces your benefit. If your full retirement age is 67, you receive about 70% of your full amount, which is a 30% reduction.
See the early-claiming penaltyCan I work while receiving benefits?
Yes. Before full retirement age, SSA withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above $24,480 (2026 limit). Withheld benefits are added back to your check later.
Use the earnings test calculatorWill my benefits be taxed?
They can be. Depending on your combined income, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable at the federal level. The thresholds start at $25,000 for single filers and $32,000 for joint filers.
Estimate your benefit taxesHow is the COLA calculated?
SSA compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September with the same average from the last year a COLA took effect. The percentage increase, rounded to the nearest tenth, is the COLA.
Read how COLA is calculatedWhat is the difference between SSA, SSI, and SSDI?
SSA is the agency that runs the programs. SSDI pays disability benefits based on your work history. SSI is need-based assistance with strict income and resource limits.
Compare SSI and SSDISocial Security Guide is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Estimates are for education only; confirm official figures at SSA.gov.