Early claiming decision
Claiming Social Security at 62: What Changes
Understand the monthly reduction, earnings test, and highest-35-year effect before claiming Social Security at age 62.
Read guideEvidence-based planning library
Social Security claiming guides
Understand the rules behind your estimate, then apply them with a private, browser-based calculation. Each guide links directly to the relevant Social Security Administration source.
Choose when to claim
Delayed claiming decision
Claiming Social Security at 70: Delayed Credits Explained
See how delayed retirement credits increase a worker benefit through age 70 and what waiting does not cover.
Read guideBirth-year reference
Social Security Full Retirement Age Chart
Find full retirement age by birth year and understand the January 1 birthday rule used by Social Security.
Read guideClaiming comparison
Early vs. Delayed Social Security Benefits
Compare smaller checks sooner with larger checks later using monthly benefits, cumulative totals, and break-even age.
Read guidePlan work and retirement
Earnings record rule
The Social Security 35-Year Earnings Rule
Learn how Social Security uses the highest 35 years, why missing years become zeros, and when more work can raise a benefit.
Read guideRetirement timeline
Stopping Work Before Claiming Social Security
Model a stop-work year separately from a Social Security claiming date and see how zero or low years affect the estimate.
Read guideWork after claiming
Working While Receiving Social Security
Understand benefit withholding before full retirement age and how new earnings may replace a lower year.
Read guideCurrent SSA rule
Social Security Earnings Test Limits for 2026
Review the 2026 retirement earnings limits, withholding formulas, and special first-year monthly rule.
Read guideCalculator preparation
How to Read Your Social Security Earnings Record
Prepare an SSA earnings record for a retirement estimate, identify missing years, and avoid entering non-covered income.
Read guideUnderstand the formula
Benefit formula
Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) Explained
See how wage indexing, the taxable maximum, the highest 35 years, and 420 months produce AIME.
Read guideBenefit formula
Social Security Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)
Understand what PIA means, how the formula uses AIME, and how claiming age changes the payable amount.
Read guide2026 formula reference
2026 Social Security Bend Points and Formula
Use the official 2026 PIA bend points of $1,286 and $7,749 and understand what they do to AIME.
Read guideDollar-value assumptions
Social Security COLA: What It Changes
Understand how cost-of-living adjustments differ from wage indexing and delayed retirement credits in an estimate.
Read guideReady to compare?
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