Here's the Maximum Social Security Benefit at Ages 62 and 70 (and How to Get It)

1 hour ago 1

Trevor Jennewine, The Motley Fool

Tue, May 26, 2026 astatine 4:28 AM CDT 4 min read

The Nationwide Retirement Institute reports that lone 8% of surveyed adults tin place each the factors that find the maximum Social Security benefit. That is problematic due to the fact that Social Security is mostly the largest root of income successful retirement, meaning benefits person a important interaction connected surviving standards for millions of Americans

Read connected to spot the maximum Social Security payment astatine antithetic assertion ages successful 2026 and to larn what it takes to suffice for the biggest payout.

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A Social Security paper tucked successful with U.S. currency.

How Social Security benefits are calculated for retired workers

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses 3 variables to cipher Social Security benefits for retired workers: (1) enactment history, (2) beingness earnings, and (3) claiming age.

The archetypal measurement is determining the superior security magnitude (PIA), the payment a idiosyncratic receives if they commencement Social Security astatine afloat status property (FRA). The PIA is calculated by plugging inflation-adjusted net from the 35 highest-paid years of enactment into the benefits formula, which changes annually to relationship for increases successful the mean wage.

The 2nd measurement is adjusting the PIA for aboriginal oregon delayed retirement. Workers who assertion Social Security earlier FRA person a smaller payout, typically little than 100% of their PIA. Workers who assertion Social Security aboriginal than FRA get a larger payout, meaning much than 100% of their PIA.

How retired workers gain the maximum Social Security benefits

Now that I've covered however Social Security benefits are calculated, we tin sermon however to maximize them by revisiting the 3 variables from the erstwhile section.

Work history: The benefits look includes income from the 35 highest-paid years of work. That means workers indispensable walk astatine slightest 35 years successful the workforce to get the maximum benefit. Workers employed for less than 35 years volition person zeroes factored into the benefits formula, making them ineligible for the biggest payout.
Lifetime income: The benefits look lone considers net up to the maximum taxable limit. That means workers indispensable person income astatine oregon supra the taxable maximum for astatine slightest 35 years to suffice for the biggest Social Security benefit. The taxable maximum is $184,500 successful 2026, but it typically increases each twelvemonth to bespeak changes successful the mean wage.
Claim age: Workers who assertion Social Security benefits aft FRA gain delayed status credits that summation their payments by two-thirds of 1% per month, oregon 8% per year. But delayed status credits halt accumulating astatine property 70, meaning workers indispensable assertion Social Security astatine property 70 to gain the implicit maximum Social Security benefit.