It is not absurd to suppose that you could spend seven figures throughout Social Security retirement, especially if you live into your nineties.

It is difficult to save so much while also attempting to handle your daily costs, but fortunately, the majority of people can count on Social Security.

Social Security Tips

If you wish to maximize your potential gain, you must employ the proper strategy. Even if you are not yet eligible for benefits, there are three things you can do to maximize your benefits.

1. Maximize your income during your years of employment

Your benefit payments are based on the Social Security payroll taxes you’ve paid over your career. Your average monthly salary is adjusted for inflation throughout your 35 highest-earning years. Average monthly indexed earnings (AIME).

There are two ways to increase your AIME for a larger Social Security payment. Today, increase your revenue. Options include negotiating a raise, working extra, and looking for a better-paying job.

Most people’s AIME rises when their income rises, however high earners’ AIME may not. In 2023, payroll taxes apply solely to the first 160,200 dollars earned. Hence, earning more will not improve future rewards.

Working for more than 35 years can also enhance your AIME. You should be better off financially now than in the past in your profession. After 35 years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will replace your lower-earning years with your higher-earning years, resulting in an increase in your monthly benefit.

2. Choose the best age for collecting Social Security benefits

The SSA incorporates your AIME into the calculation of your full retirement age benefit beginning with the year you reached 60. (FRA). 66 to 67, depending on the birth year. Most then do not assert. If you do not compute your benefits increase or decrease, the government does so for you.

Initiating benefits before your FRA can result in a 30% reduction, whilst postponing can lead to a 32% rise. Delaying past age 70 is fruitless. After reaching the maximum benefit amount, the government will no longer pay you for waiting.

If you have a low life expectancy or require your benefits to cover essential expenses, you should enroll before this date. If you can afford to live without them and expect to live into your 80s or beyond, delaying application could result in a larger lifetime benefit.

My Social Security can assist if you are unsure when to enroll. This calculator calculates your monthly benefit at any age based on your career history. Choose multiple options and double each benefit amount by the number of months you anticipate receiving payments.

If you are eligible for a $2,000 monthly check at age 62 and get it for 20 years or 240 months, your lifetime benefit is $480,000. Claim your benefits at the age that will generate the highest lifetime payout whenever possible.

Read more: Is it possible to receive Child Tax Credit even if you haven’t submitted a tax return? 

3. If you’re married, coordinate with your spouse

If they have earned enough, married individuals can collect benefits on their own. One credit is equivalent to $1,640 in earnings in 2023, and you can earn no more than four credits each year.

Couples can also claim benefits based on their spouse’s employment history. Spousal benefits are equal to fifty percent of your partner’s FRA benefit. When you join up for Social Security, you’ll receive the greater of your own use or your spouse’s benefit, but you can’t begin collecting until your spouse begins receiving benefits.

Optimize household advantages by determining the application dates for each spouse. 

Circumstances determine strategy. If both parties have similar salaries, they may desire to postpone the wedding as long as feasible. If one partner earns much more than the other, the higher-earning partner may delay filing for benefits while the lower-earning partner files early to provide financial support.

Even if you cannot enroll, you should have a plan. Stay adaptable. You must respond if your finances or rules change.

Read more: Social Security: Is it possible to avoid paying taxes?