Social Security Break-Even
Compare claiming at 62, full retirement age, and 70 with clear caveats. Educational only.
Calculator result
Claim at 62 estimate
$1,750
Claim at full retirement age
$2,500
Claim at 70 estimate
$3,100
Rough break-even: age 78.7 for 62 vs full retirement age, and age 82.5 for full retirement age vs 70. This excludes taxes, survivor benefits, investment returns, and health.
| Higher earner claims | While both alive | Survivor receives | Monthly income lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 62 | $3,150 | $2,063 | $1,087 |
| Age 67 | $3,900 | $2,500 | $1,400 |
| Age 70 | $4,500 | $3,100 | $1,400 |
The survivor receives the higher eligible payment, not both payments added together. This simplified comparison assumes the survivor claims at survivor full retirement age and excludes spousal top-ups while both are alive, early survivor claiming, disability, family maximums, pensions, taxes, and earnings tests. Confirm an individual estimate with Social Security.
Numbers behind this result
Open the exact public record for the legal figure or modeling convention used above.
Sources and notes
- Starting Your Retirement Benefits EarlySocial Security Administration
- What you could get from Survivor benefitsSocial Security Administration
These tools use simplified assumptions. Use them to frame better questions, then verify details against primary sources or a qualified professional.