How to get the maximum Social Security check in retirement

When I retire, I plan to travel. I’ll probably continue writing about money, markets, and investing because I love it, but travel will definitely be on my retirement agenda. Maybe a week here and a week there. Perhaps a month to embed myself in a local community so the barista knows my order by sight.

Social Security monthly income at a glance:

  • Maximum at full retirement age: $4,018.
  • Maximum at age 62: $2,831.
  • Maximum at age 70: $5,108.
  • Average across all retired workers in 2025: $1,975
  • Source: Social Security Administation.

My retirement dream may not be your dream. We all have different takes on what the perfect retirement may be. For some, a cabin in the woods will be ideal; for others, a seaside retreat may be perfect. Many may want to spend time with family or curl up with a book on the couch.

Regardless of your ultimate retirement, one common thread: our need for financial flexibility.

It doesn’t matter if we call it financial security, freedom, or whatever buzz-worthy phrase strikes you. We’ll all need money when we retire; for many, a big chunk will come from Social Security.

According to Census Bureau data, a whopping 63% of recipients in 2022 relied on Social Security for over 50% of their personal income. That suggests that most of us should seriously consider what we can do now to ensure our checks are the biggest possible.

Maximizing Social Security requires planning

If you’re retired, there’s not much you can do to boost your Social Security. Most strategies for getting the biggest check possible require years of advance planning.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

The good news is that millions of Americans still have plenty of time to make decisions that can pay off big time later.

You see, the amount you collect from Social Security depends on three things:

  • How much money you make.
  • How long you work.
  • When you begin collecting benefits.

Social Security’s calculation is complex. But, in short, it averages your highest 35 years of income, adjusted for inflation. Then, it reduces that figure by specific percentages at levels called bend points to get your primary insurance amount, or the amount you can collect at your full retirement age (age 67 for those born in 1960 or later). Claim before full retirement age, and your check shrinks—delay and your check increases.

Related: How the government shutdown affects Social Security, Medicare

Given that formula, the best ways to increase your payout in retirement are to make the most money possible (assuming your job is subject to Social Security taxes) for as long as possible.

Ask for a raise

I get it. Asking for a raise isn’t easy. It can be stressful. But if you’re the kind of person who shows up on time and does good work, and you haven’t gotten a pay bump lately, it’s time to talk to your employer and see if there are opportunities for advancement or a chance for a raise.

The sooner, the better. Just as compound interest means investing earlier in your life results in more money later in life — more pay now raises the floor for future pay raises, increasing your lifetime earnings and, as a result, Social Security’s calculation of average pay.

One thing to remember, though, is that Social Security taxes only apply to up to $176,100 in annual income in 2025—earning over that and increasing your pay has clear benefits, but it won’t impact the size of your eventual Social Security check.

Get rid of zeros

If you have worked for fewer than the 35 years Social Security uses in its calculation, you might want to delay retirement or at least work part-time for a while longer.

Having less than 35 years of work history means Social Security will include zeros in its calculation, dragging down your average income.

Getting rid of those zeros is a sure-fire way to get a higher Social Security check, but it doesn’t only apply to zeros. Since Social Security bases its calculation on your highest 35 years, if you earn more now than early in your career and have worked 35 years already, you can boost your check by continuing to work and replacing low-income years, too.

Patience pays off big time

In the 1970s, changes were made to reward would-be recipients for holding off on claiming their benefits, extending Social Security’s viability (more on that in a minute).

Over time, the reward for delaying increased, and nowadays, delaying benefits results in an inflation-beating 8% increase annually from full retirement age until age 70 (there’s no benefit to delaying beyond age 70—at least not yet).

For perspective, a person with a full retirement age benefit of $2,000 who delays until 70 would land 24% more (8% times 3 years), bringing their haul at 70 to $2,480 — that’s a pretty significant increase.

As you can quickly see, the three strategies complement each other — the more you make for longer, plus waiting to claim, the better your shot at maximizing your Social Security income.

Will Social Security even matter?

There’s a lot of talk that Social Security is in trouble, and that’s sparked worry that Social Security won’t be there when you need it.

Currently, the Social Security Administration says that money coming in will fall short of money going out in 2033, forcing an across-the-board cut to benefits paid.

The OASI Trust Fund is projected to become depleted in 2033, the same year as last year’s estimate, with 77 percent of benefits payable at that time.

Social Security Administration.

While anything can happen, this isn’t the first time concerns over Social Security’s future have weighed on workers’ minds.

A similar situation in the 1980s prompted President Ronald Reagan to form the National Commission on Social Security Reform, or Greenspan Commission, in 1981 (Alan Greenspan, who became Chairman of the Federal Reserve, headed the panel). Its recommendations resulted in changes to the program in 1983, including the increased delayed retirement credits and lifting the full retirement age from 65 to 67, among other changes.

While Social Security faces a shortfall, similar changes will most likely be implemented before then to protect it. If those changes include increasing delayed retirement credits again, the situation may even work out in your favor, helping you get even more retirement income from Social Security.

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