Gather your lifetime earnings record from Social Security
Identify your highest 35 years of indexed earnings
Adjust past earnings for wage inflation using Social Security indexing
Sum the highest 35 indexed earnings years
Divide the total by 420 to get your average indexed monthly earnings
Apply the Social Security benefit formula to your average indexed monthly earnings
Use the current bend points for the year you turn 62
Calculate the primary insurance amount from the bend point formula
Adjust for claiming age if you claim before full retirement age
Increase the benefit for delayed retirement credits if you claim after full retirement age
Subtract Medicare premiums or other deductions if applicable
Check your earnings record for errors before estimating benefits
Use the Social Security Administration calculator for an official estimate