Three ways to see your estimated benefit amount
You can see your estimated Social Security benefit in three ways: through your personal account on the Social Security website, by phone, or by mail. The website method is fastest and shows your estimate in minutes. All three methods use the same calculation based on your actual earnings record, so the number you get will be consistent across all of them.
Your estimate assumes you keep working until your full retirement age and that your earnings stay roughly the same. If you plan to retire earlier or later, or if your income will change significantly, the estimate will shift. The Social Security Administration updates your record every year, so your estimate changes as you earn more (or stop earning).
The estimate you receive is not a promise. It is based on current law and current tax rates. Congress can and has changed Social Security rules, so treat the number as a reasonable projection rather than a may provide.
Key Takeaways
- You can view your estimate online at ssa.gov/myaccount in about five minutes if you already have a Social Security account.
- Your estimate assumes you work until your full retirement age (66 to 67 for most people born after 1954) and that your earnings stay steady.
- The estimate changes every year as you earn more income, so check it periodically to see how your record has been updated.
- If you claim before your full retirement age, your actual benefit will be lower than the estimate shown; if you claim after, it will be higher.
- You can request a paper statement by mail if you do not have internet access or prefer not to create an online account.
Getting your estimate online through your Social Security account
Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and sign in with your username and password. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one. The site will ask you to verify your identity using information from your credit file or by uploading documents like a driver's license or passport.
Once you are logged in, click "Benefit Estimates" in the left menu. You will see three estimates: one for retirement at your full retirement age, one for claiming at 62 (the earliest age), and one for claiming at 70 (the latest age that increases your benefit). The estimates show your monthly benefit in today's dollars, which means the number is adjusted for inflation so you can compare it to your current living costs.
The online estimate takes into account your actual earnings history up to the most recent year the Social Security Administration has processed. If you worked last year, that income may not yet be reflected, so your estimate might be slightly low. The agency typically processes prior-year earnings by late fall.
Calling Social Security to request your estimate by phone
Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 for deaf and hard of hearing callers). Wait times are typically shortest early in the morning or late in the week. Have your Social Security number ready.
Tell the representative you want a benefit estimate. They will ask you questions about your work history and when you plan to retire. The call usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. The representative will give you your estimates over the phone and can mail you a written statement if you ask.
If you call, ask the representative to note any years when you had low earnings or did not work. Social Security's benefit formula drops your lowest-earning years from the calculation, so understanding which years count matters if you are deciding whether to keep working.
Requesting a paper statement by mail
Fill out Form SSA-7050 (Request for Social Security Statement) and mail it to the Social Security Administration. You can read the form from ssa.gov/forms or call 1-800-772-1213 to request a copy by mail.
Include your name, date of birth, and Social Security number on the form. Mail it to the address shown on the form. The Social Security Administration will send you a statement in the mail within two to four weeks. The statement includes your earnings record for the past three years and your benefit estimates at different claiming ages.
This method is useful if you do not have internet access or do not want to create an online account. It is also a good way to get a paper copy you can keep in your files.
What your estimate includes and what it does not
Your estimate shows your Primary Insurance Amount — the benefit you would receive at your full retirement age. It also shows what you would receive if you claimed at 62 or at 70. These numbers are based on your actual earnings record, adjusted for inflation.
The estimate does not account for taxes you may owe on your benefits, reductions if you claim before full retirement age and still work, or any changes Congress might make to the program. It also does not include any benefits your spouse or children might receive based on your record.
If you are married, your spouse may be may have access to to a benefit based on your earnings record even if they did not work. That benefit is not shown in your personal estimate; your spouse would need to check their own account or contact Social Security to see what they might receive.
How claiming age changes your actual benefit
The estimate shown for your full retirement age is your baseline. If you claim at 62, your monthly benefit will be roughly 30 percent lower. If you claim at 70, your monthly benefit will be roughly 24 percent higher. These percentages are set by law and do not change.
The trade-off is about total lifetime benefit. If you claim early, you get more payments but each payment is smaller. If you claim late, you get fewer payments but each one is larger. The break-even point is usually around age 80, though it varies based on your health and family history.
Your estimate assumes you claim at one of these three ages. If you claim at a different age between 62 and 70, your benefit will fall somewhere in between. Social Security can tell you the exact amount for any age if you call or visit in person.
Updating your estimate as your earnings change
Check your estimate every few years, especially if your income has increased or if you have taken time out of the workforce. Each year of higher earnings can replace a lower-earning year in the calculation, which raises your benefit.
If you are still working, your estimate will update automatically once the Social Security Administration processes your tax return for that year. This usually happens by late fall. If you are self-employed, make sure you file your tax return on time so your earnings are recorded accurately.
If you took years off to care for children or a family member, you may be able to exclude some of those years from the calculation. Contact Social Security directly to ask whether you may have access to for this adjustment, as it does not happen automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my online estimate different from the one I got by phone?
The estimates should be the same if you requested them around the same time. If they differ, it may be because your recent earnings have been processed since the last time you checked. Call Social Security to confirm which estimate is current, or log back into your online account to see if it has been updated.
Can I see what my spouse or ex-spouse would receive based on my record?
No, your estimate shows only your own benefit. Your spouse or ex-spouse would need to check their own Social Security account or contact the agency directly. If you are married, Social Security will calculate your spouse's benefit when you both file.
What if I took years off work to raise children — does that lower my benefit?
Social Security's formula drops your lowest-earning years, so a few years of zero earnings may not affect your benefit if you have enough higher-earning years. However, if you took many years off, it could lower your estimate. Call Social Security to discuss your specific situation; you may also be may have access to to a credit for years spent caring for young children.
Is the estimate in today's dollars or future dollars?
The estimate is shown in today's dollars, adjusted for inflation. This means the number reflects what your benefit would be worth in current purchasing power. When you actually claim, your benefit will be higher in nominal dollars because of cost-of-living adjustments, but it will have roughly the same buying power.
What happens to my estimate if Congress changes Social Security?
Your estimate is based on current law. If Congress changes the program — for example, by raising the full retirement age or changing the benefit formula — your estimate would change. The Social Security Administration would update your account to reflect any new rules. You would receive notice of major changes.