Have you tried the Social Security Retirement Estimator?

Have you tried the Social Security Retirement Estimator? The Retirement Estimator can give you an idea of how much you will receive each month once you retire based on your Social Security earnings record. The Social Security Administration can’t provide an actual benefit amount until you apply for benefits. But it can give you a ballpark amount of what you may expect to receive.

Keep in mind that the estimate is just that. The farther you are from retirement, things can change that would affect your final monthly payout. The amount you earn, for example, may fluctuate in the years before retirement. The law governing Social Security payments may change once you reach retirement. Your benefit amount also may be affected by military service, railroad employment or pensions earned through work which was not subject to Social Security tax.

You can use the Retirement Estimator if you have enough Social Security credits right now to qualify for benefits. (You earn credits during your years in the workforce.) You also can use the estimator if you are NOT currently receiving Social Security income or waiting for a decision about an application for Social Security or Medicare benefits. You may not be able to use the estimator if you are eligible for a pension based on work not covered by Social Security.