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How does the Social Security Timing break-even chart work?

Compare Social Security claiming strategies across different longevity assumptions in Covisum Suite.

Open the break-even chart in Covisum Suite

  1. Sign in at Covisum Suite and select the client.
  2. Complete the client's Social Security Timing benefits and assumptions.
  3. Select Social Security Timing > Results, then scroll to Break-Even.

The chart compares the claiming strategies included in the analysis. The result depends on the client information, benefit amounts, claiming dates, inflation, discount rate, and longevity assumptions.

Reading the married-couple chart

For a married couple, the horizontal axis shows one spouse's longevity and the vertical axis shows the other spouse's longevity. Each location represents a combination of lifetimes. The color identifies the strategy with the highest calculated value for that combination.

Use the legend displayed with your chart. In the example below, Suggested is purple and Earliest is light blue. Additional alternate strategies can change the legend and the chart. Boundaries between colors show where the preferred strategy changes as longevity changes.

Hover over a point to compare the values for that longevity combination. Review the cash flows and claim instructions alongside the chart to explain when each benefit begins and how household income changes after a spouse dies.

Example assumptions

This illustrative case uses Steven (born January 2, 1960; longevity 90; FRA benefit $3,000) and Sophia (born January 2, 1965; longevity 95; FRA benefit $800). The statement date is October 20, 2026. Inflation and discount rates are both 0% so the fixed-dollar benefits are easy to follow. These are sample assumptions, not a forecast of future COLAs or investment returns.

For this case, the suggested strategy has Steven elect at 70 and Sophia at 67. Its projected lifetime benefits are $1,663,200, compared with $1,456,791 for the earliest strategy. Different inputs and assumptions will produce different results.

Use break-even results in the planning conversation

A break-even chart is one part of the decision. Also consider survivor income, health and longevity, taxes, other retirement income, portfolio withdrawals, and the client's goals. The chart does not predict how long a client will live.