Social Security benefit matrix online - can I see different retirement ages and earnings options?
I'm trying to figure out the best time to claim my Social Security retirement benefits and I've heard people talk about a 'benefit matrix' or chart that shows different benefit amounts based on when you apply. I know there's some calculator on the SSA website, but can I actually get a full matrix showing what I'd get at 62, 63, 64, etc., up to 70? And can it also show different scenarios if I keep working part-time? I've heard the online application process gives you some kind of personalized estimate, but I don't want to start an actual application just to see these numbers. Anyone know if this exists somewhere in my Social Security account?
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Diego Flores
Yes, you can get this information without starting an application! Log into your my Social Security account and look for the "Retirement Estimator" tool. It allows you to create different scenarios based on stop-work dates and benefit claiming ages. It's not exactly a matrix, but you can run multiple calculations and write down the results to create your own. You can see estimates for claiming at any age from 62 to 70, and you can adjust your future earnings to see how working longer affects your benefit amount. Very helpful for retirement planning.
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Chloe Robinson
•Thank you! I logged in but got confused with all the different calculators and tools. Is the Retirement Estimator different from the benefit calculator I see on my homepage? I'm not seeing anything labeled specifically as a matrix or that lets me compare multiple ages side by side.
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Anastasia Kozlov
theres no actual matrix on the ssa site that shows everything at once... gotta run each age individually and write it down yourself.... super annoying!! takes forever and the site keeps timing out on me
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Sean Flanagan
•Same!! Site is so frustrating. I had to call them to just get basic info. Took 2 HOURS to get through!!
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Zara Mirza
The Social Security Administration doesn't provide an actual side-by-side matrix table online, but you can generate the information to create one yourself. In your my Social Security account, use the Retirement Calculator and run separate calculations for each age (62-70) and earnings scenario. I recommend creating a spreadsheet with columns for: claiming age, monthly benefit amount, and lifetime benefits by certain ages (75, 80, 85, 90). This will help you visualize your break-even points. One important note: the online estimates don't factor in the earnings test if you claim before your Full Retirement Age (FRA) while still working. If you earn above the annual limit ($23,520 in 2025 if under FRA), SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 earned over that limit. The withheld benefits are returned gradually after you reach FRA.
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NebulaNinja
•This is exactly what I did! Created my own spreadsheet so I could see everything at once. The extra work was worth it because I realized taking benefits at 67 (my FRA) actually works better for my situation than waiting til 70, contrary to what most advisors told me. That earnings test is what really complicated everything for me since I plan to work part-time until I'm 68.
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Luca Russo
I tried calling SS about this SAME EXACT THING last month!!! Waited on hold for 3 hours and then got disconnected!!! Their phone system is THE WORST and their website doesn't explain ANYTHING clearly!! WHY CAN'T THEY JUST SHOW US ALL OUR OPTIONS IN ONE PLACE???? Is that really so hard???
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Nia Wilson
•I had the same horrible experience trying to call about my benefits! But I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an SSA agent in under 20 minutes. Honestly saved me hours of frustration. They connected me directly to a real person who pulled up all my different benefit amounts at different ages and emailed me the information. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - I was skeptical at first but their website claimyr.com explains everything. Definitely better than waiting on hold for hours or trying to piece together information from the website.
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Diego Flores
To answer your follow-up question - no, even if you schedule an in-person appointment, the SSA representative won't typically generate a full matrix for you. They'll usually just run calculations for specific ages you request. However, they CAN provide you with printed benefit estimates for whatever ages you specifically ask about, which might be easier than trying to capture everything from the online tool. One thing to keep in mind: if you're more than a year or two away from applying, these estimates are subject to change based on future earnings and any COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments) that occur before you actually claim benefits.
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Chloe Robinson
•That's good to know about the in-person appointments. I'm about 3 years away from my FRA so I understand the numbers will change. I think I'll try to set up a spreadsheet like you all suggested and maybe use that Claimyr service to get through to someone who can give me the printouts for different ages to verify my calculations.
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Anastasia Kozlov
btw theres also that 'break even' point to think about... if u claim early at 62 vs waiting till 70, it takes till like age 82 to break even on the total $$ u get... my brother claimed at 62 cuz he said 'what if i die before i break even?' but now hes 75 and regrets it cuz his checks r so small compared to his wife who waited till FRA
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Zara Mirza
•This is a very good point about break-even analysis. The traditional calculation just looks at cumulative dollars, but a more sophisticated analysis would account for the time value of money and how you might invest early benefits. However, many people underestimate their longevity. According to SSA statistics, about one in three 65-year-olds today will live past 90. For married couples, there's a 50% chance one spouse will live beyond 92. This is why the claiming decision is so important—especially for the higher earner in a couple, as their benefit will become the survivor benefit.
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Sean Flanagan
My neighbor works for SSA and she told me they have internal software that shows all this but they don't give public access to it!! So frustrating!!!
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Luca Russo
•Of COURSE they keep the good tools for themselves!! Typical govt bureaucracy - they make it IMPOSSIBLE for regular people to understand their benefits!!!
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NebulaNinja
Just wanted to update everyone - I just found a somewhat hidden feature in the my Social Security portal that gives more comparison options. After you log in, go to 'Plan for Retirement' (not the basic benefit calculator), then click 'Compare Retirement Options.' This tool lets you create and compare different scenarios with sliders for retirement age and future earnings. Still not a complete matrix, but much better than running one calculation at a time. Hope this helps!
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Chloe Robinson
•Thank you so much for this tip! I just found it and it's exactly what I needed. I can see different retirement ages and earning levels side by side. Not quite a full matrix but way better than what I was using before. Really appreciate everyone's help!
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