To find out how much you could receive in retirement benefits in the United States, you don't need to wait until you turn 62 or 65 years old. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a free tool in my Social Security that allows you to check a personalized estimate of your monthly benefit, compare different retirement ages, and review the work income recorded in your name.
The calculation is based on salaries and self-employment earnings subject to Social Security, as well as the age at which you would begin receiving payments. It is a projection, not a guaranteed amount: it may change if you continue to work, modify your future income, or if there are errors in your record.
How to see how much you will receive from Social Security when you retire, step by step
1. Access the official site. Go to SSA.gov/myaccount and choose to log in or create a personal account my Social Security. Checking your estimated retirement is free of charge.
2. Verify your identity. Log in using Login.gov or ID.me, the providers used by the SSA to access their services. If you do not have an account, you will need to register and follow the identity verification instructions.
3. Look for the retirement estimate. Once inside, check the retirement benefits section (Retirement) or the retirement planning tool. There you can see estimated monthly amounts based on the age you choose to start receiving payments.
4. Compare the ages. The calculator displays estimates for 62 years, the full retirement age that applies to you, and 70 years. It also allows you to choose another age or start date to compare results.
5. Adjust future income. If you expect to continue working, earn more, or stop working before applying for benefits, adjust the income projection in the calculator to see how the amount would change.
6. Review your employment history. Check the recorded income year by year, as a missing or incorrect salary can affect the estimate. The SSA explains these functions in its official guide to obtaining a benefits estimate.
How to create a my Social Security account with Login.gov or ID.me
To create a personal account on my Social Security, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid email address, and complete the identity verification process. The SSA states that new accounts are created using Login.gov or ID.me, not through old shortcuts with a username and password from the SSA.
On the official page to create an account, you can choose the provider, fill in the required information, and set up security measures. If you are already using Login.gov or ID.me for another service, you may be able to take advantage of that access, as long as you complete the necessary verification for the SSA. Do not share passwords or verification codes with third parties.
If you live outside of the United States and need to access your account, the SSA explains that you can do so using ID.me, following the necessary identification requirements. The official response for users abroad contains more details. Having an account does not, by itself, ensure that you qualify for benefits.
The portal and several steps of the process are available in English. Information about benefits and requirements can be found on the Spanish pages of the SSA.
How much would you charge if you retire at 62, 67, or 70 years old?
The age at which you start receiving benefits directly affects the monthly amount. Generally, you can apply for retirement benefits starting at age 62 if you meet the requirements, but starting before your full retirement age reduces the monthly amount. Waiting beyond that age increases the amount until you reach 70.
The full retirement age is not the same for everyone: it depends on the year of birth. For those born in 1960 or later, it is 67 years; for those born earlier, ages of 66 years or between 66 and 67 apply, depending on the year. The SSA offers a calculator to determine full retirement age.
As a reference, for a person born in 1960 or later, starting at exactly 62 years old can mean a reduction of 30% from the benefit calculated for 67. If you wait from 67 to 70, deferred retirement credits can increase that benefit by 24% before considering future cost-of-living adjustments. These percentages do not replace the individual account calculation, which also depends on the income history.
The credits for postponing retirement cease to accumulate at age 70. The SSA details how they work in its guide on deferred retirement. Delaying the date is not always the best decision for everyone: it is important to consider income, expenses, health, family situation, and medical coverage.
How many years do you need to work in the United States to qualify for retirement benefits?
To obtain retirement benefits based on your own work history, you typically need 40 Social Security credits. Since only four credits can be earned per year, this usually amounts to about ten years of work with income subject to contributions, although they do not have to be consecutive years.
In 2026, the SSA grants a credit for every 1,890 dollars of covered earnings, up to a maximum of four credits per year, which is reached with 7,560 dollars. The thresholds may change each year. Your account shows the recorded credits and, where applicable, those you still need. The official Social Security credits guide explains these rules.
Having 40 credits allows you to meet the usual work requirement, but it does not determine how much you will earn. The monthly amount is generally calculated using the 35 years of highest adjusted earnings as determined by the SSA. If you only worked 10, 15, or 20 years with covered earnings, the remaining years needed to reach 35 are included as zero in the calculation and may reduce the benefit. Continuing to work with higher earnings can replace years of low or no income.
That’s why two people with the same 40 credits can receive very different payments. The SSA only considers the income that counts for the program; having savings, earning rental income from investments, or receiving other income does not mean that those amounts are added to your record of covered wages.
How to review your earnings record and correct errors in Social Security
Within my Social Security, look for the complete earnings history (earnings record) and compare it with your W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns, and other documents. The SSA recommends verifying during the following year that the previous year's income was recorded correctly.
If you detect a missing salary, an incorrect amount, or income that does not belong to you, the SSA allows certain individuals to request an online correction from the eligibility and income section, using the option Request a correction online. Not all accounts or situations permit this digital process.
If you cannot correct it online, contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and press 7 for Spanish assistance, or request an appointment at an office. Keep your W-2s, pay stubs, and statements that support the change. The SSA guide for reviewing your earnings history explains these options. Some corrections are subject to time limits and legal exceptions, so it's advisable to act as soon as you discover the error.
What happens if you continue working after applying for retirement?
It is possible to receive retirement benefits and continue working. If you have not yet reached your full retirement age, Social Security may withhold part of your benefits when your earnings exceed the annual limits. In 2026, the general limit for those who remain below their full retirement age for the entire year is $24,480; for every two dollars earned over that threshold, one dollar of benefits will be deducted.
If you reach full retirement age in 2026, another limit of $65,160 applies to the income from the months before you reach it, with a withholding of one dollar for every three dollars that exceed that limit. Starting from the month you reach full retirement age, there is no income limit that reduces your benefits under this rule. The SSA may also recalculate your payment if new years of work improve your record. Check the official rules for working while receiving retirement benefits.
Why my Social Security estimate doesn’t always match the check you will receive
The figure you see in the account is a estimation of your benefit under certain assumptions, not a guarantee of exact payment. Future reported earnings, the timing of your request, annual adjustments for the cost of living, and, when applicable, deductions such as Medicare premiums or tax withholdings may influence this. The net deposit may be less than the gross benefit.
If you are already receiving retirement payments, your account may show updated notices and amounts, which is a different function from the tool that projects future retirement. For example, the cost of living adjustment announced for 2027 is applied to benefits according to Social Security rules; there is no need to submit a new retirement application to receive that automatic adjustment.
What to do if the estimate does not appear or you cannot access the account?
The SSA warns that your account may not display a retirement calculation if you do not yet meet the requirements. First, check the accumulated work credits and the recorded income. If you are unable to create the account or pass the identity verification, use the support from Login.gov or ID.me as applicable, or contact Social Security to explore the alternatives.
The agency also offers benefit calculators on its Spanish page, although the general tools may require you to input your income and do not replace the personalized estimate of your official history.
When to apply for retirement and what happens with Medicare at age 65
Consulting the estimate in my Social Security does not initiate a retirement application. When you decide to start collecting, the SSA allows you to submit your application up to four months in advance of the month you expect to begin receiving benefits. The official guide for applying for retirement explains how to do it online or with the help of the agency.
If you decide to delay your retirement after turning 65, review the enrollment rules for Medicare separately. Not starting to receive retirement benefits does not automatically mean you should wait until 67 or 70 to manage your medical coverage. Depending on your health insurance and employment situation, postponing enrollment in certain parts of Medicare can have financial implications.
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