Social Security retirement calculator disappeared after suspending benefits - how to see benefit amounts at different ages?

This happens to everyone who applies for benefits and then suspends them. The calculator disappears because technically you've already filed - you're just in suspended status. You can still see your benefit projections, but you need to call SSA and request a PEBES (Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement) that will show your benefit amounts at your current age, FRA, and age 70. The online calculator won't come back until you either withdraw your application completely (which has to be done within 12 months of filing) or reach age 70.

same thing happened to me last yr when i suspended my benefits cuz i went back to work. its super annoying!! you gotta call them to get the estimates now, the online thing wont come back. make sure u ask specifically about the delayed retirement credits youll earn during suspension

The retirement benefit calculator disappears because your record has been flagged as "entitled" even though you suspended payments. The system isn't sophisticated enough to restore the calculator tool for suspended benefits. Here's what you need to know: 1. Each month of suspension after your Full Retirement Age (FRA) increases your benefit by 2/3 of 1% (8% per year) 2. Since you're 64 and suspending before FRA, you won't earn DRCs (Delayed Retirement Credits) until after you reach your FRA 3. The suspension does stop the early retirement reduction from increasing You can request a benefit verification letter that shows your current monthly benefit amount. Then calculate the increases manually using the percentages above when you pass your FRA. Your FRA is likely 66 and 8 or 10 months, depending on your birth year.

I tried calling the SS office for something similar last month and was on hold for over 2 hours before they hung up on me!! So frustrating trying to get anyone on the phone!!

The SSA website is TERRIBLE and constantly removing useful features! I had the same problem when I went back to work. YOU WILL NEVER GET THE CALCULATOR BACK once you've applied, even if you suspend benefits. It's a ridiculous design flaw they refuse to fix! I've complained multiple times and they just say "that's how the system works" which is a lazy excuse. The whole SSA online system needs to be rebuilt from scratch!!!

Just to clarify some confusion I'm seeing in the replies - there's an important distinction here. When you suspend benefits BEFORE full retirement age (like you're doing at 64), it works differently than suspending AFTER full retirement age: 1. Suspending before FRA: You avoid the earnings test reduction (where they'd take $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit), but you don't earn delayed retirement credits yet 2. Suspending after FRA: You earn delayed retirement credits of 8% per year Since you're suspending at 64, what you're really doing is avoiding the hassle of the earnings test recovery process. Since you're earning well over the limit, most or all of your benefits would be withheld anyway. As for the calculator, others are correct - you won't get it back. But you can request a PEBES statement or use the printed statement they mail annually to see projections.

have u tried using the calculator on the main ssa.gov site instead of just your personal acct? might work

This whole situation makes me so nervous about applying for my own benefits next year. Seems like once you make any move, you're stuck with whatever happens to your online account! I've been saving screenshots of all my estimates just in case.