3 Simple Steps to Get More from Your Social Security Check

The most powerful, evidence-backed way to increase your monthly Social Security check is also the simplest: wait. For most people, claiming at age 70 provides the highest guaranteed monthly income, turning a strategic delay into a powerful financial return.

The math is straightforward. For every year you delay past your full retirement age, your benefit increases by roughly 7% to 8%. If you wait until age 70, you get a 24% boost over the amount you'd receive at full retirement age. That's not a gamble; it's a guaranteed raise built into the system. The increase stops at age 70, so the clock is ticking.

This creates a stark contrast between the average and the maximum. The average monthly benefit for retired workers is about $2,013. But if you truly max out Social Security by working longer and delaying, you could receive $5,108 per month. That's more than double the average, showing the massive upside of waiting.

So why does this work? Social Security is designed to supplement your personal retirement savings, not replace them. By delaying your claim, you're trading a smaller initial payout for a much larger, inflation-adjusted income stream that continues for life. It's like turning a smaller monthly paycheck into a bigger one that keeps pace with the cost of living, year after year. For many, this delayed benefit becomes the cornerstone of a secure retirement.

Boost Your Earnings History by Working Longer

The second lever you can pull to increase your Social Security check is also within your control: keep working. This isn't just about adding more savings to your retirement fund. It directly reshapes the calculation that determines your monthly benefit.

Here's the core mechanic: your benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years. The Social Security Administration (SSA) takes your entire work history, adjusts it for inflation, and then picks the 35 years where you earned the most. If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, zeros are added to fill the gap, which pulls down your average. That average is then plugged into the benefit formula.

This is where working past age 67 becomes a powerful tool. For those born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. Once you hit that age, you're not obligated to stop. If you continue working, you're likely replacing a low-earning year-or even a zero-with a higher one. This directly increases the average of your top 35 years, which in turn raises your primary insurance amount (PIA) and your monthly check.

The earnings used in this calculation are capped each year by the taxable maximum. For 2026, that limit is $184,500. This means any income above that amount doesn't count toward your benefit calculation. So, the strategy is to earn as much as possible up to that cap in your later working years. It's like using your final paychecks to upgrade the average score on your 35-year report card.

The bottom line is that working longer isn't just about delaying your claim; it's about improving the foundation of your benefit. By replacing lower-earning years with higher ones, you're actively boosting the number that the SSA uses to figure out your payout. It's a straightforward way to make your future Social Security check a little larger, one paycheck at a time.

Coordinate with Your Spouse for a Bigger Household Check

For married couples, Social Security isn't just about two individual checks. It's about a household strategy. The key to maximizing total income is understanding that one spouse's benefit directly determines the other's potential payout. This creates a clear hierarchy: the primary earner's benefit is the foundation.

The rule is simple. When one spouse files for benefits, the other can claim a spousal benefit equal to half of the primary earner's benefit at full retirement age. This is a cap. If the primary earner delays claiming past their full retirement age, their benefit grows, but the spousal benefit does not get a corresponding boost. The spousal benefit is locked at that half-point based on the primary earner's benefit when they first claim.

This sets up a stark contrast. The average monthly check for a retired worker is about $2,008. The average spousal benefit, however, is just $955. That's less than half. This gap highlights why the primary earner's benefit is so critical. A larger primary benefit directly translates to a larger spousal check for the household.

This is where coordination becomes essential. Couples can use specific strategies to optimize timing, though the rules have changed and require careful planning. For instance, a "restricted application" allows a spouse to claim only the spousal benefit while letting their own retirement benefit grow. This is often done by the lower-earning spouse, who files for the spousal benefit at full retirement age and then switches to their own higher benefit later, ideally at age 70. Another older strategy, "file and suspend," allowed one spouse to file and immediately suspend benefits so the other could claim a spousal benefit. However, this specific option is no longer available for new applicants.

The bottom line is that Social Security for couples is a team sport. The total household income depends heavily on the primary earner's benefit and the timing of when each spouse claims. By understanding the spousal benefit rule and the importance of the primary earner's payout, couples can work together to build a larger, more secure financial base for retirement.