Step 1
Go to "Estimate your retirement benefits" at www.ssa.gov. (To use the tool, you must not be currently receiving benefits or waiting for your application to be processed, nor can you be 62 or older and receiving benefits on another person's record.)
Step 2
Type in your full name, Social Security number and date of birth; the state where you were born; and your mother's maiden name. Hit "submit." Then fill in last year's wages or net self-employment income. Hit "submit" again, and let the Retirement Estimator calculate your benefits based on your actual earnings history.
Step 3
Check the estimates for your reduced benefits at age 62, your full benefits at your normal retirement age and your maximum benefits at age 70. You can also tweak the estimates by changing your stop-work age and future earnings.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The payoff
You'll have a handle on your base income in retirement.
Haven't yet filed for Social Security? Create a personalized strategy to maximize your lifetime income from Social Security. Order Kiplinger’s Social Security Solutions today.