9 Ways to Maximize Social Security Benefits

Key Points

• Your benefit depends on your 35 highest-earning years, so earning more boosts payments.
• Delaying Social Security until 70 can increase benefits by up to 8% per year.
• Checking your earnings history avoids costly errors that shrink your benefits.
• Find ways to supplement your Social Security income for a stronger retirement.

Millions of Americans look to Social Security as the cornerstone of their financial retirement strategy. By carefully crafting your retirement plan, you can increase your monthly benefit.

Here are nine essentials to help you claim every Social Security dollar you deserve.

Earn more money to get the largest benefit

Your Social Security benefit will be based on your 35 highest-earning years. Earning more money at work will boost the size of your payment.

In fact, a few high-earning years late in your career can make a meaningful difference over the decades you receive benefits.

Earn the wage base limit for 35 years

To qualify for the maximum benefit, you must have earned at least the annual wage base in 35 years of your career.

That's a steep hill to climb. For example, in 2025, the wage base is $176,100. So, most people will never earn the maximum Social Security benefit. But a handful will do so. If you want to join them, now is the time to work harder.

Delay filing until age 70

For most people, full retirement age (FRA) is 67. For every year you delay claiming after full retirement age — up to age 70 — your benefit grows by 8% per year.

So, waiting until age 70 to collect your benefit can significantly raise your payment.

This boost can really add up, especially over a long retirement. Just note that there is no advantage to delaying further once you reach 70.

Sign up for a Social Security account and monitor it

Creating a "my Social Security" account lets you track your earnings history. You can also receive estimates for the size of your benefit depending on the age you first file.

More importantly, you can look for errors in your work history. It's important to check for mistakes since they can directly affect the size of your benefits. Even one typo in wages could result in significantly less income each month during retirement.

See if you qualify for spousal benefits

If you're married, you may be eligible to receive up to 50% of your spouse's benefit if their benefit is higher than what you would receive based on your own work history.

However, if you claim spousal benefits before your full retirement age, your monthly benefit will be lower than if you had waited.

See if you qualify for survivor benefits

When one spouse dies, the surviving spouse may be able to boost their benefit. Survivor benefits allow you to inherit your spouse's benefit if it is higher than your own

It's also possible to claim the survivor benefit and switch to your own if the latter grows over time and exceeds the benefit your late spouse earned.

Be careful about working if you take Social Security before full retirement age

Working while receiving benefits before full retirement age can trigger a temporary reduction in the size of your benefits.

You will have $1 in benefits withheld for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. In 2025, the limit is $23,400.

That limit jumps to $62,160 if 2025 is the year you reach full retirement age. Exceeding that level of earnings results in $1 being withheld for every $3 you earn above the limit.

Those withheld benefits aren't gone for good — the Social Security Administration will credit them back to you after you reach FRA.

Once you have reached FRA, you can earn as much income as you like without having to worry about having benefits withheld.

Plan carefully so you pay less taxes on benefits during retirement

Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxable. The amount taxed is based on your provisional income, which is the sum of your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest, and half of your Social Security benefit.

Managing income in a way that keeps it low can reduce how much you owe in taxes on your benefits. Tax-smart planning helps preserve more of your Social Security dollars.

Pause your benefits

If you have reached full retirement age and are receiving benefits, you can suspend them. Doing so will allow you to earn delayed retirement credits.

When you crank up the benefits machine later, you will get a higher monthly benefit. Note that this option is no longer available once you reach the age of 70.

Bottom line

Earning more money and managing work income and taxes are essential to squeezing the most out of Social Security.

Delayed filing also could raise your monthly benefit, offering a significant financial gain over time. With the right strategy, you can increase your lifetime benefit and get ready for a stress-free retirement.

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Author Details

Adam Palasciano

Adam Palasciano is a writer for FinanceBuzz and a personal finance-obsessed and money-savvy individual who loves to hash out content on all things saving money. He specializes in writing millennial-friendly personal finance content, covering topics ranging from trending financial news, debt, credit cards, cryptocurrency, and more.