What is the maximum monthly Social Security benefit you can collect in June 2025?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that the maximum monthly benefit for people retiring at full retirement age in 2025 will be $4,018. This figure varies significantly depending on the retirement age, ranging from $2,831 for those who retire at age 62 to $5,108 for those who wait until age 70

The amount of Social Security benefits a person can receive each month is primarily determined by two crucial factors: the income earned over the course of their working life and the age at which they choose to begin collecting their benefits.

The Social Security Administration uses a specific formula based on the worker’s 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation, to calculate the base benefit. However, the decision about when to begin receiving these benefits can have a significant impact on the monthly amount received.

Although beneficiaries can begin receiving payments from the age of 62, starting retirement before reaching full retirement age (which varies depending on the year of birth) results in a permanent reduction in the benefit. For example, for people born in 1960 or later, whose full retirement age is 67, retiring at 62 would mean receiving only 70% of the full benefit they would be entitled to.

How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefit

The decision of when to retire has significant long-term financial implications. According to official SSA data for 2025, waiting until full retirement age allows access to a maximum benefit of $4,018 per month, a substantial difference from the $2,831 available to those who retire at age 62. This reduction represents approximately 30% less than the potential benefit.

For those who can afford to wait even longer, the incentives are considerable, as the Maximum Social Security Benefit for those who delay retirement until age 70 in 2025 amounts to $5,108 per month. This increase is due to the delayed retirement credits that the SSA grants to those who postpone the start of their benefits beyond full retirement age.

It is important to contextualize these maximum figures: the average Social Security benefit in March 2025 is approximately $1,945 per month, indicating that most beneficiaries receive significantly less than the maximum possible. This is because maximum benefits are only accessible to those who have maintained high earnings during their 35 highest-earning years.

Factors that determine your personal benefit

The calculation of an individual’s Social Security benefit is fundamentally based on the applicant’s work history. The Social Security Administration specifically considers the 35 years of highest earnings, adjusted for inflation. This means that those with gaps in their work history or periods of low earnings will see their potential benefit reduced.

For people born in 1960 or later, full retirement age has been set at 67. Retiring before this age has significant financial consequences. For example, a person who would be entitled to a benefit of $1,000 per month if they retire at age 67 would receive only $700 if they decide to retire at age 62. Similarly, spousal benefits are also proportionally reduced, from $500 to $325 in the same scenario.