3 smart steps to maximize your monthly Social Security check in retirement

Social Security is only one part of retirement income, but it still matters a lot. The Motley Fool says, “even though it was never intended to serve as the entirety of your income in retirement, your plan should include making the most of your Social Security retirement benefits”. Some people already get very high monthly Social Security checks.

Some retirees are getting the maximum possible monthly payment of $5,108 this year, and this can rise to $5,251 next year, while the average monthly payment is only $2,015. The Social Security system uses a formula to decide your monthly check. According to the Social Security Administration, the calculation depends on how long you worked, how much you earned, and when you claim benefits.

Step 1: Work for at least 35 years if you want a bigger check.

The Social Security Administration looks at your 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation, when calculating your benefit. You can still claim benefits even if you worked less than 35 years. The Motley Fool explains that if you worked fewer than 35 years, Social Security counts the missing years as $0 income, which lowers your monthly payment. Most people do not work a full 35-year career. A 2024 survey by Mass Mutual shows the average retirement age in the U.S. is 62, meaning many people work around 30 years.


The 35 working years do not have to be in a row. The Motley Fool notes that you can take breaks, work part-time, or leave the workforce for some time, and it will not ruin your benefits if you still reach 35 earning years. Working more than 35 years can still help. The Social Security Administration chooses your best 35 earning years, so higher-earning years can replace lower ones.

Step 2: Earn a high income during those working years.

The Motley Fool says Social Security benefits depend on how much taxable income you earned and how much FICA tax you paid. There is a limit on how much income Social Security taxes each year. The Social Security Administration sets a yearly taxable income cap, and earnings above that limit do not count toward benefits.

Most workers never hit this income limit. The 2026 taxable income cap is $184,500, which is about three times the typical U.S. annual wage of $63,000, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The income cap rises over time because of inflation.

The Motley Fool explains that the cap increased from $168,600 in 2024 to $176,100 in 2025, and then to $184,500 in 2026. To get the maximum benefit, you must meet the income cap for 35 years.

The Motley Fool states you need to earn at least the inflation-adjusted maximum taxable income in each of those 35 years. The Social Security Administration provides a long table of yearly income caps. The data shows required taxable income levels from 1987 to 2026, confirming how the limit changes each year.

Step 3: Wait as long as possible to claim benefits.

The Social Security Administration allows people to claim benefits starting at age 62, but this leads to smaller checks. Claiming at 62 can cut your payment a lot. The Motley Fool says early claiming can reduce benefits by up to 30% compared to waiting until full retirement age. Full retirement age is not the maximum benefit age. The Social Security Administration says full retirement age is between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year.

Waiting until age 70 gives the biggest possible monthly check. For people born in 1960 or later, waiting until 70 adds 24% more than the benefit at full retirement age, according to the Social Security Administration. You can claim benefits anytime between 62 and 70. The Social Security Administration adjusts payments by 2/3 of 1% per month, adding or subtracting based on when you claim.

There is no reward for waiting past age 70. The Motley Fool explains that Social Security stops increasing benefits after 70, and only up to six months of back pay is allowed. Extra bonuses are often overlooked by retirees. A possible $23,760 Social Security bonus that many retirees miss because they do not know all the rules. Knowing these three steps can mean thousands more every year. The reports says understanding how to work longer, earn more, and wait to claim can lead to much higher monthly retirement income.

FAQs

Q1. How can I get the highest Social Security monthly check?

You can get a higher check by working at least 35 years, earning good income, and waiting until age 70 to claim benefits.

Q2. Why does waiting until age 70 increase Social Security payments?

Waiting adds extra credits to your benefit, which raises your monthly Social Security check.