Social Security

Find your optimal claiming age to maximize lifetime household income

Your Information

$/mo
$/mo

Claim Early

Age 62

30% reduction
Your benefit$1,855/mo
Spouse benefit$1,288/mo
Combined/month$3,143/mo
Lifetime to age 88$981,000
Break-even vs FRAAge 79

Claim at FRA

Age 67

Baseline
Your benefit$2,650/mo
Spouse benefit$1,840/mo
Combined/month$4,490/mo
Lifetime to age 88$1,131,000
Break-even vs FRABaseline
Best Lifetime Value

Claim Late

Age 70

24% delayed credit
Your benefit$3,286/mo
Spouse benefit$2,282/mo
Combined/month$5,568/mo
Lifetime to age 88$1,203,000
Break-even vs FRAAge 82

Cumulative Lifetime Income by Claiming Age

Claim Early (62)Claim at FRA (67)Claim Late (70)Your life expectancy (88)
65
70
75
80
85
90
95

Bars show cumulative combined household income from the point of claiming to each age. Dashed line marks your life expectancy assumption.

Spousal & Survivor Benefit Considerations

  • Spousal benefit floor. A spouse is entitled to up to 50% of the higher earner's FRA benefit. If the lower earner's own benefit is below that threshold, they will automatically receive the spousal top-up — claiming age of the higher earner matters.

  • Survivor benefit follows your claiming age. When the higher-earning spouse delays to age 70, the surviving spouse inherits the larger delayed benefit for life. Delaying is often the single most effective longevity insurance strategy for two-income households.

  • Coordinating claim dates. In many households, the lower earner claims early to bring in income while the higher earner delays. This strategy captures some cash flow while maximizing the survivor benefit — a common optimization for pre-retirees.

All projections are illustrative and for educational purposes only. Benefit amounts are based on your inputs and simplified actuarial assumptions — actual Social Security benefits are determined by SSA based on your full earnings record. Break-even ages and lifetime totals do not account for taxes on benefits, cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), or changes in household circumstances. This is not personalized financial, tax, or legal advice.