Social Security’s biggest retirement checks go to workers who meet these requirements

According to data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), approximately 57.9 million people received Social Security retirement benefits in September 2026, including spouses and children of retired workers, as well as the workers themselves.

For retired workers, the average Social Security retirement benefit was $2,088.79 per month, although the exact amount varies depending on each individual’s circumstances.

How does Social Security calculate your retirement benefit?

The two main factors that determine how much you receive are your average earnings over your career and your age when you claim benefits. The more you earn in jobs covered by Social Security, the higher your monthly retirement benefit can be. And the longer you wait to claim, the more you can receive each month, particularly if you delay until after age 62.

The amount of earnings that counts toward the maximum benefit is adjusted annually based on changes in national wage levels. To calculate your benefit, the SSA takes an average of your earnings over the 35 highest-earning years of your career. If you worked for fewer than 35 years, the years in which you had no earnings count as zero, bringing down your average.

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How to receive the maximum Social Security retirement benefit

If you claim retirement benefits at 62, the earliest age at which you can start receiving payments, the maximum benefit in 2026 is $2,969 a month. However, those who put off claiming benefits receive a higher monthly payment for each year they wait, up to age 70.

For those who wait until their full retirement age (FRA) to claim benefits, the maximum monthly benefit in 2026 is $4,152. Your FRA is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later, and progressively lower if you were born earlier.

If you want to receive the highest possible Social Security retirement benefit, you’ll need to wait until age 70 to claim. You’ll also need to have earned at least the maximum amount of income subject to Social Security taxes for 35 years. In 2026, the SSA’s maximum taxable earnings limit is $184,500.

The maximum Social Security retirement benefit available in 2026 is $5,181 a month for someone who claims at age 70 and meets the earnings requirements. This amount can change each year as Social Security benefits are adjusted for inflation.

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