How much will I get from Social Security?
Your Social Security benefit depends on your 35 highest-earning years and when you file. The average retired worker gets about $2,071/mo/month in 2026. But most people have no idea what their actual number is. It takes 15 minutes to find out — and that number changes everything.
Dr. Ed Weir, PhD · 20 years inside Social Security · "Former" Sergeant, USMC
Updated April 2026
How much will I get from Social Security?
Your monthly check is based on your 35 highest-earning years, indexed for inflation. SSA converts that into your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — your benefit at full retirement age. The average retired worker receives $2,071/mo/month in 2026. The maximum at FRA is $4,152/mo. At 70, it's $5,181/mo. Your actual number depends on your earnings history and when you file.
When you're ready for Medicare — usually at 65
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Here's how to find your number.
Don't guess what your benefit will be. Here's how to get your real number and understand what it means.
1. Pull your earnings record from ssa.gov/myaccount today
Log into ssa.gov/myaccount and review your earnings record. SSA shows what they have on file for every year you worked. This is the foundation of your future benefit — errors here cost real dollars.
Missing years, wrong amounts, or missing employer entries should be corrected before you file. The earlier you catch them, the easier they are to fix. SSA generally won't correct earnings older than 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days unless you have proof.
my Social Security ›2. Identify your 35 highest-earning years — those are what count
SSA averages your 35 highest-earning years (indexed for wage inflation) to compute your AIME, then runs that through the PIA formula. Years with zero earnings count as a zero in the average if you don't have 35 working years.
20 years at SSA taught me this is the single most under-known piece of the calculation. People think their 'last few years' matter most. They don't. Your 35-year picture matters most.
3. Find the zero or low-earning years dragging your number down
If you have fewer than 35 working years, every additional year of work above your lowest current year replaces a zero in the average and lifts your eventual benefit. Even part-time work can move the number meaningfully.
If you have a career with several low-paid early years, working an extra year now usually replaces one of those low-paid years — and the boost is bigger than people expect.
4. Pull your personalized estimates at 62, FRA, and 70
ssa.gov/myaccount shows three numbers: your benefit at 62, at your FRA, and at 70. The gap is usually larger than people expect.
These estimates assume you keep earning at your current rate until you file. If you stop working earlier or your wages drop, the actual numbers may be a bit lower.
my Social Security ›2026 benefit amounts
Which of these sounds more like you?
Your benefit amount depends on your situation. Pick what fits.
I have less than 35 years of work historyEach new working year replaces a zero in the average
If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings on record, your benefit is being calculated with zeros in the empty slots. Every additional year of work above your lowest current year replaces a zero in the average and lifts your eventual check.
20 years at SSA taught me this is the most under-known fact. Even one extra year of part-time work can make a meaningful difference for someone with several zero years in their 35-year picture.
I'm still 10+ years away from retirementPlan ahead — estimates assume continued earnings
If you're not yet 60, your Social Security statement on ssa.gov/myaccount projects benefits at 62, FRA, and 70 — but those projections assume you keep earning at your current rate. If you stop working early or your wages drop, the actual numbers will be a bit lower.
The earlier you start tracking, the more options you have. Many people find errors in their earnings record only when they go to apply, and SSA generally won't fix earnings older than 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days unless you have proof. Check now — fix later is harder.
I'm within 5 years of my FRAThe numbers are real now — plan around them
Within 5 years of FRA, your numbers stabilize and the planning gets concrete. Pull both your earnings record and your three estimates (62, FRA, 70) from ssa.gov/myaccount and start the real conversation about when to file.
The single most useful 30 minutes you can spend is reviewing those three numbers side by side and figuring out which mix of work, savings, and Social Security gives you the income you need. The gap between 62 and 70 is often more than two thousand dollars per month — worth understanding before you decide.
My earnings record looks wrong or has missing yearsFind errors and fix them while you can
Pull up ssa.gov/myaccount and review every year on your earnings record. SSA shows the wages they have on file for each year. If a year is missing or wrong, fix it now — SSA generally won't correct earnings older than 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days unless you have proof.
20 years at SSA taught me this: missing earnings are one of the most common and most expensive errors. Find your old W-2s, tax returns, or pay stubs before you assume the record is right.
Check your earnings record now — SSA generally can't fix errors older than about 3 years and 3 months without documentation.
I worked some years under a non-Social-Security pensionWEP and GPO were repealed by the Fairness Act
If you worked some years in jobs not covered by Social Security — most often state or local government with a separate pension — your benefit calculation may be affected. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) used to reduce benefits in these cases.
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed January 2025, repealed both WEP and GPO. If you were affected before, your benefit may now be larger and SSA owes you retroactive payments. Check ssa.gov/sfa for the current status.
If you worked under a non-Social-Security pension, the 2025 Social Security Fairness Act may have changed your benefit. Check ssa.gov/sfa.
I'm trying to plan my filing strategy with my spouseHousehold-level math beats individual-level math
If your spouse worked too, the household benefit picture is more than just your check. SSA will pay each of you the higher of: your own benefit, or up to 50% of the other's FRA benefit (spousal). Survivor benefits when one of you dies can be up to 100% of the higher earner's check.
For couples planning together, the right filing strategy can mean tens of thousands of dollars over your retirement. The bigger earner delaying past FRA usually pays off twice — once during life, again as the bigger survivor benefit when they die first.
I'm helping someone else estimate their benefitBystander — I'm not the one filing
If you're helping a parent or partner figure out their benefit, the most useful thing is to help them log into ssa.gov/myaccount and pull their three estimates (62, FRA, 70) plus their earnings record.
Real numbers usually clear the conversation faster than rules of thumb. The earnings record is also where errors hide — a missed year or a wrong amount from decades ago can quietly cost hundreds per month for life.
My situation is different from theseTell me what's specific to you
Disability benefits, survivor benefits, dual-entitlement scenarios (your own + spousal), and benefits from foreign work all calculate slightly differently. Tell me what's specific about your situation.
For anything genuinely unusual — totalization agreements, multiple records, or post-Fairness-Act recalculations — calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 is faster than guessing.
Your Social Security check is just the start.
People approaching retirement often qualify for programs that add to their Social Security income.
Medicare Savings Program (MSP)
If your retirement benefit will be modest, the Medicare Savings Program may cover your Part B premium — $202.90/month — plus deductibles and copays. Many retirees qualify and never check.
Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy)
Extra Help can reduce Medicare Part D prescription drug costs to near zero. SSA administers it directly. Worth checking if your future Social Security check will be your main income source.
Medicaid
If your retirement income is below your state's threshold, you may qualify for Medicaid alongside Medicare. Medicaid picks up what Medicare leaves out — including long-term care that Medicare barely touches.
SNAP (Food Benefits)
If your future check will be near or below the SNAP gross income limit — $2,510/mo/month for a household of one in 2026 — you may qualify. Many seniors underestimate their SNAP eligibility.
LIHEAP (Energy Bill Help)
LIHEAP helps cover heating and cooling bills for retirees on fixed Social Security income. Federally funded, state administered. Apply through your local energy assistance office.
Property Tax Relief
Most states offer senior property tax breaks — exemptions, deferrals, or circuit-breaker credits. If you're retired and own a home, this is among the most under-claimed benefits in the country.
Everything people ask me
How much will I get from Social Security retirement?
It depends entirely on your earnings record. The average retired worker gets $2,071/mo/month in 2026. The maximum at FRA is $4,152/mo/month. The maximum at 70 is $5,181/mo/month.
Your personal number depends on your 35 highest-earning years and the age you file. Pull your estimates at 62, FRA, and 70 from ssa.gov/myaccount.
What's the maximum Social Security benefit I could possibly get?
In 2026, the maximums by filing age are:
At 62: $2,969/mo/month At FRA (67 for those born 1960+): $4,152/mo/month At 70: $5,181/mo/month
These maximums require having earned at or above the Social Security taxable wage cap for at least 35 years. Most workers fall well below these caps.
How does SSA calculate my benefit?
SSA averages your 35 highest-earning years (indexed for wage inflation), divides by 420 to get your AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings), then runs that through the PIA formula to get your benefit at FRA.
For 2026, the formula is: 90% of the first $1,286 of AIME, plus 32% of AIME between $1,286 and $7,749, plus 15% of AIME above $7,749.
Why does SSA use 35 years — and what if I worked fewer?
SSA averages your 35 highest-earning years. If you worked fewer than 35 years, the missing years count as zero in the average — which drags your benefit down.
If you have, say, 28 working years, those 7 zero years pull your AIME down significantly. Working a few more years — even part-time — replaces zeros with real wages and can lift your eventual benefit meaningfully.
How do I check my Social Security earnings record for errors?
Log into ssa.gov/myaccount and look at the year-by-year earnings list. SSA shows what they have for every year you worked.
If a year is missing or wrong, you can file a correction by submitting your W-2, tax return, or pay stub from that year. SSA generally won't correct errors older than 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days unless you have documentation.
How much can I get if I wait until age 70?
Each month you delay past your full retirement age earns 2/3 of 1% — 8% per year. From FRA of 67 to age 70, that's 24% more than your FRA benefit. Permanently.
In 2026 dollars: if your FRA benefit is $4,152/mo/month, waiting to 70 puts you at $5,181/mo/month. Credits stop at 70.
How can I check my future Social Security benefit?
Log into ssa.gov/myaccount. SSA shows three personalized estimates: at 62, at your FRA, and at 70.
These assume you keep earning at your current rate until you file. If you stop working earlier, the actual numbers will be slightly lower. Pull this every year or two as you approach retirement — the numbers update with each year of earnings.
Is there a maximum amount of earnings that can count toward my benefit?
Yes. Each year SSA sets a 'taxable wage cap.' Earnings above the cap don't pay Social Security tax and don't count toward your benefit calculation. In 2026, the cap is $184,500.
This is why even high earners eventually hit a benefit ceiling. The maximum benefit at FRA in 2026 is $4,152/mo/month.
Will my Social Security benefit be taxed?
Possibly. Federal income tax may apply to up to 85% of your benefit, depending on your combined income (your AGI plus tax-exempt interest plus half your Social Security).
For an individual: combined income up to $25,000, no tax. $25,000 to $34,000, up to 50% taxable. Above $34,000, up to 85% taxable. Joint thresholds are $32,000 and $44,000. State taxes vary; some states fully exempt Social Security.
What happened with the Social Security Fairness Act — did it change my benefit?
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed January 2025, repealed both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). About 3.2 million people who were affected by these provisions — mostly retirees with state, local, or federal pensions outside Social Security — are seeing larger benefits.
If you were affected, SSA is recalculating benefits and paying retroactive amounts. Check ssa.gov/sfa for current status and timing.
Sources
Every figure and rule on this page is verified against primary sources. Last verified 2026.
- Average retired-worker benefit Jan 2026 = $2,071/mo —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Max benefit at FRA 2026 = $4,152/mo —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Max benefit at 70 (2026 new retiree) = $5,181/mo —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Max benefit at 62 (2026) = $2,969/mo —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Early filing reduction at 62 vs FRA-67 = 30% —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Delayed retirement credit = 2/3 of 1% per month (8%/yr). At 70 w/ FRA 67: 124% of PIA. —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- FRA for born 1960 or later = 67 —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Reduction formula: 5/9 of 1% per month for first 36 months before FRA; 5/12 of 1% per month beyond that —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- PIA formula uses 35 highest-earning years indexed for inflation (AIME calculation) —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Spousal benefit max = 50% of worker's PIA, based on PIA (FRA amount) not on actual collected amount. Worker's early-filing reduction does not reduce spousal amount. —secure.ssa.gov(verified 2026-05-07)
- Spousal benefit eligibility requires the worker to have filed. Spouse cannot claim spousal benefits on a worker's record until the worker has filed. —secure.ssa.gov(verified 2026-05-07)
- FRA chart for born 1943-1959: 1943-1954 = 66; 1955 = 66 and 2 months; 1956 = 66 and 4 months; 1957 = 66 and 6 months; 1958 = 66 and 8 months; 1959 = 66 and 10 months. (Born 1960 or later = 67, covered … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-29)
- Full retirement age = the age at which the worker receives 100% of their Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). No early-filing reduction; no delayed retirement credit at FRA exactly. PIA is the benefit … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-29)
- Working past FRA can increase a worker's PIA via the 35-year recalculation. SSA recomputes the PIA each year using the worker's 35 highest indexed earning years; high-earning years past FRA can … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-29)
- Survivor benefit = the amount the deceased worker was actually receiving (or would have been entitled to receive) at the time of death, including any delayed retirement credits earned. If the deceased … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-05-07)
- SSA can pay up to 6 months of retroactive Social Security retirement benefits at the time of filing if the applicant is past full retirement age. Past age 70 the retroactivity caps at 6 months and any … —secure.ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- 2026 Social Security taxable wage cap = $184,500. Earnings above this amount in any single year do not pay Social Security tax and do not count toward benefit calculation. Cap indexes annually with … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-04-29)
- 2026 PIA formula bend points: AIME up to $1,286 is multiplied by 90%; AIME between $1,286 and $7,749 is multiplied by 32%; AIME above $7,749 is multiplied by 15%. Sum equals the Primary Insurance … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-05-08)
- Social Security retirement benefit replaces approximately 40% of an average wage earner's pre-retirement income. Replacement rate is higher for low earners (~75%) and lower for high earners (~25%) due … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-05-08)
- Social Security Fairness Act (P.L. 118-273, signed Jan 5 2025) eliminated WEP and GPO and triggered recalculations affecting over 2.8 million people — mostly retirees with state, local, or federal … —ssa.gov(verified 2026-05-08)
- Medicare Part B standard premium 2026 = $202.90/mo —cms.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- SSA generally cannot correct earnings record errors older than 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days unless the worker provides documentation (W-2, tax return, pay stub). The 'time limit on correction of … —ecfr.gov(verified 2026-05-08)
- Social Security Fairness Act signed Jan 5 2025. WEP/GPO repealed, retroactive to Jan 2024. —congress.gov(verified 2026-04-27)
- Up to 85% of Social Security retirement benefits can be subject to federal income tax. Statute-fixed since 1984: combined income (AGI + tax-free interest + half of SS benefit) above $25,000 single / … —law.cornell.edu(verified 2026-05-08)
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