Social Security

When you claim is worth tens of thousands.

The same earnings record pays a very different monthly check depending on whether you start at 62, 67, or 70. These guides cover how the benefit is calculated, where the break-even falls, and how spousal and survivor rules change the call.

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Claim at 62 and your check is cut by 30%; wait until 70 and it grows by 24%. Where those paths cross is the whole decision, and your health, your work, and your spouse all move it. The guides below break down the math one piece at a time. More on spousal timing, survivor benefits, and how Social Security is taxed is on the way. When you want to see how a given claim age changes how long your savings last, the calculator models it directly.

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Social Security
Social Security Break-Even Age: Claiming at 62 vs. 67 vs. 70
Claiming early locks in a 30% smaller check; waiting to 70 adds 24% on top. Where the two paths cross is the whole decision, and it usually lands in your late 70s to early 80s.

See your claim age in action.

Enter your benefit estimate and timeline, then watch how starting at 62, 67, or 70 changes how long your savings last across many market outcomes.

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