I have a copy of my latest benefits estimate from Social Security. I think it estimates my future earnings based on my latest year. I plan to stop working before I start drawing Social Security retirement benefits. I'd like to know how much that will reduce their estimated benefit. They have some clever calculators online, but none of them seem to do exactly what I want. I played with one of their calculators and I think I have a close estimate. It looks like since I have 35+ years of earnings that stopping early won't change my amount a lot - maybe about $20 per year that I stop working early. Is there any way I can get a better estimate of that reduction?

Hi,

You can get a rough idea by calculating the rate yourself (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf), but for the most accurate estimate I would suggest using the maximization software available on this website.

Best, Jerry