--- title: "Social Security Break-Even Analysis: Why SSA Dropped It" description: Why the Social Security Administration stopped showing break-even ages, and what financial advisors should weigh instead when clients decide when to claim. image: https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/hubfs/IWR-issue4-Article%203%20Why%20Social%20Security%20Moved%20Away.png --- [Skip to content](https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/publication/social-security-break-even-analysis-why-ssa-dropped-it#main-content) [![Investments & Wealth Institute ](https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/hubfs/content-hub/iwi_logo_w294_h46.svg "Investments & Wealth Institute ")](https://investmentsandwealth.org/) Explore - [All Content](https://4812204.hs-sites.com/content-hub) - [Video](https://4812204.hs-sites.com/content-hub?type=Video) - [eBook](https://4812204.hs-sites.com/content-hub?type=eBook) - [Case Study](https://4812204.hs-sites.com/content-hub?type=Case+Study) - [Blog](https://4812204.hs-sites.com/content-hub?type=Blog) - [Podcasts](https://4812204.hs-sites.com/content-hub?type=podcast) - [Webinars](https://4812204.hs-sites.com/content-hub?type=webinar) - [Find An Advisor](https://www.investmenthelp.org/) - [Contact](https://investmentsandwealth.org/contact-us) - [My Dashboard](https://portal.investmentsandwealth.org/s/login/?startURL=%2Fs%2Fhome-page) - Certifications - [CIMA](https://investmentsandwealth.org/certifications/cima-certification) - [CPWA](https://investmentsandwealth.org/certifications/cpwa-certification) - [RMA](https://investmentsandwealth.org/certifications/rma-certification) - [Help Me Choose](https://investmentsandwealth.org/certifications/compare-iwi-certifications) - [Online Education](https://investmentsandwealth.org/online-learning-financial-advisor-ce) - [Conferences & Events](https://investmentsandwealth.org/financial-advisor-conferences-events) - [Experience 2026](https://experience.investmentsandwealth.org) - [Membership](https://investmentsandwealth.org/membership) - [Publications & Resources](https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/) - [Partner Solutions](https://investmentsandwealth.org/partner-and-sponsor) - [About](https://investmentsandwealth.org/about/mission-purpose-value) Investments & Wealth Review - Number 04, 2026 # Why Social Security Moved Away from Break-Even Analysis for Claiming Decisions Jason J. Fichtner, PhD Clients often reduce the claiming decision to one question: At what age do I break even? The Social Security Administration stopped presenting break-even analysis to the public in 2008 over concerns that it distorted claiming decisions. Jason J. Fichtner, who served at SSA from 2007 to 2010 as acting deputy commissioner, chief economist, and associate commissioner for retirement policy, played a leading role in that decision. Here he explains why.   Fichtner's point is that a break-even calculation is correct arithmetic and poor guidance. A crossover age treats Social Security as a bet on one's date of death, when the benefit is inflation-protected lifetime income built to insure against living longer than expected. He covers the behavioral evidence, the household view for married couples, and the questions that should replace break-even in client conversations.   **Key Takeaways** - SSA moved away from showing break-even analysis to the public in 2008. RAND research found that break-even framing can push people toward earlier claiming, which permanently reduces monthly benefits. - Break-even treats a long life as the scenario in which delaying "wins." In insurance terms, a long life is when a retiree most needs the larger, inflation-adjusted benefit. - For couples, the question is how to secure the most reliable income across both lifetimes. A higher earner who delays raises the survivor benefit a spouse may live on for years. - Early claiming is sometimes right, for clients who need income now, have serious health conditions, or are coordinating with a spouse. The problem is letting break-even become the main decision rule. Instant Access ## Read the Full Publication Our Members receive new publications by mail and in the Membership Newsletter. 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Fichtner, PhD", "url" : "https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/publication/author/jason-j-fichtner-phd" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-16T13:37:12.372Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-16T13:13:51.000Z", "headline" : "Social Security Break-Even Analysis: Why SSA Dropped It ", "image" : [ "https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/hubfs/IWR-issue4-Article%203%20Why%20Social%20Security%20Moved%20Away.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/publication/social-security-break-even-analysis-why-ssa-dropped-it", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://content.investmentsandwealth.org/hubfs/IWI%20Logos/IWI%20Logo%20Horizontal/180227_4C_LOGO_Horizontal.png" }, "name" : "Investments & Wealth Institute" } } ```