What is the most Social Security you can get?

Asked by: Dr. Jayce Rogahn  |  Last update: December 16, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (27 votes)

Your maximum benefit if you file at age 62 – the youngest possible age – is $2,710 per month. Your maximum benefit if you file at full retirement age – between 66 and 67 – is $3,822 per month. Your maximum benefit if you file at age 70 – the age when extra benefits stop accruing – is $4,873 per month.

What is the highest Social Security check you can make?

The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $4,018. However, if you retire at age 62 in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $2,831. If you retire at age 70 in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $5,108.

How much Social Security will I get if I make $120000 a year?

The point is that if you earned $120,000 per year for the past 35 years, thanks to the annual maximum taxable wage limits, the maximum Social Security benefit you could get at full retirement age is $2,687.

How much money do you need to make to max out Social Security?

The maximum Social Security benefit in 2025 is $5,108 per month or $61,296 for the year. Most people do not get that much, though. To get the maximum you would have had to postpone benefits until age 70. You also would need to have earned the maximum taxable amount ($176,100 in 2024) for at least 35 years.

How much Social Security will I get if I make $100,000 a year?

How much will I get from Social Security if I make $100,000? If $100,000 is your average income over 35 of your highest-earning working years and you plan to max out your benefits by collecting when you turn 70, you can expect to get about $3,253 per month from Social Security.

Social Security Checks: February 2025 Payment Schedule Dates Update

42 related questions found

How much Social Security will I get if I make $750000 a year?

Key Takeaways. Earning $75,000 annually could result in a monthly Social Security benefit of around $2,680 at Full Retirement Age (67). Claiming early (age 62) reduces your benefit, while delaying until age 70 significantly increases it due to Delayed Retirement Credits.

When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?

You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement.

Is it better to collect Social Security at 62 or 67?

You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits only when you reach your full retirement age. If you delay taking your benefits from your full retirement age up to age 70, your benefit amount will increase.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.

What is the highest pay for Social Security?

The maximum Social Security benefit at full retirement age is $3,822 per month in 2024. It will be $4,018 a month in 2025. It's $4,873 per month in 2024 if retiring at age 70 and $2,710 if retiring at age 62.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security?

For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

Can I retire on $500,000 plus Social Security?

If you have $500,000 in a pre-tax IRA and expect $2,000 per month from Social Security, you may have enough money to retire at age 67. A half million dollars is a relatively modest nest egg, but it can still generate a comfortable income depending on your standard of living.

What is the 10 year rule for Social Security?

If you've worked and paid taxes into the Social Security system for at least 10 years and have earned a minimum of 40 work credits, you can collect your own benefits as early as age 62.

How to boost your Social Security check by 24%?

Paused benefits earn delayed retirement credits for every month they're suspended until age 70. That can boost your benefits by 8% a year for a maximum of three years, resulting in a 24% bump.

Can you get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

Exactly how much in earnings do you need to get a $3,000 benefit? Well, you just need to have averaged about 70% of the taxable maximum. In our example case, that means that your earnings in 1983 were about $22,000 and increased every year to where they ended at about $100,000 at age 62.

Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband?

Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?

Indeed, here are three ways you can lose at least part of your Social Security benefit.
  • No. 1: Keep working while taking benefits early. ...
  • No. 2: Be a substantially lower-earning spouse. ...
  • No. 3: Be alive in 2034. ...
  • Social Security still provides an important foundation for retirement.

Can I withdraw my Social Security in a lump sum?

When you wait until full retirement age or later to claim Social Security retirement benefits, you have an option. You can receive a lump sum payment of up to six months of retirement benefits.

Why do smart people take Social Security at 62?

Key Takeaways

Taking Social Security at age 62 can make sense for retirees with health issues. If you're done working for good and do not expect to earn above the annual limit for Social Security earnings, taking benefits early can help cover living expenses.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

The ideal monthly retirement income for a couple differs for everyone. It depends on your personal preferences, past accomplishments, and retirement plans. Some valuable perspective can be found in the 2022 US Census Bureau's median income for couples 65 and over: $76,490 annually or about $6,374 monthly.

Do married couples get two Social Security checks?

You must be at least 62 years of age to claim spousal benefits, and you and your spouse have to have been married for at least one year, in most cases. You can't collect spousal benefits unless your spouse already receives Social Security. If your spouse claims their own benefit, you are dually entitled.

Who are the never beneficiaries of Social Security?

Ninety-five percent of never-beneficiaries are individuals whose earnings histories are insufficient to qualify for benefits. Late-arriving immigrants and infrequent workers comprise the vast majority of these insufficient earners.

Can a grown child collect parents' Social Security?

When a parent dies, their Social Security benefits cease. An adult child can't inherit the benefits. Only adult children with disabilities can receive Social Security benefits after their parents die. The amount of the monthly benefit payment is based on the parent's contributions in the form of SSA taxes (OASDI).