Typically, the longer you wait to claim Social Security, the bigger the monthly check is.
In general, the more you earn during your lifetime, the higher the benefit.
When you can retire depends on more than just Social Security. You may want to supplement your retirement savings with an individual retirement account (IRA), 401(k) or other savings.
The maximum Social Security benefit at full retirement age is $3,822 per month in 2024.It’s $4,873 per month in 2024 if retiring at age 70 and $2,710 if retiring at age 62. A person’s Social Security benefit amount depends on earnings, full retirement age and when they take benefits.
» Want to bump up your Social Security benefit? Here are 8 things to try
How is the maximum Social Security benefit calculated?
The size of the Social Security benefit largely depends on the size of a person's lifetime earnings and the person's full retirement age. The more you earn and the longer you wait to claim Social Security, the bigger the monthly check you’ll receive.
Here are some other things to know about how the Social Security Administration calculates retirement benefits.
The Social Security Administration gathers data on up to 35 of your highest-earning years.
The Social Security Administration indexes those earnings for inflation so that income you earned in, say, 1993 is revised to reflect what that income is in today’s dollars. Earnings after age 60 that qualify as among your highest-earning years are included at their actual nominal value.
After that, Social Security applies a somewhat-complex formula to determine your primary insurance amount, which is the benefit payment you would receive if you wait until you reach full retirement age.
You're also eligible for cost-of-living benefit increases starting the year you turn 62, even if you don't take your benefits until later.
The Social Security Administration decreases your benefit if you retire before your full retirement age, and it increases your benefit if you delay retirement until after your full retirement age (up to age 70).
» MORE: How Social Security is taxed
How to maximize your retirement income
Social Security alone likely won’t be enough income for many people when they retire, which is one reason that saving for retirement is so important.
One way to boost your retirement income is by putting money into tax-advantaged savings vehicles such as an individual retirement account (IRA).
