Social Security pays an average monthly retirement benefit of 2,076.41, as of February. However, the maximum benefit in 2026 is $5,181 — more than double the average.
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The following tips can help you increase your payment. Even if you never secure the maximum, you could boost your check by hundreds per month.
Audit the SSA
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides transparent access to your benefit amount, or projected amount for those yet to claim. However, it’s a massive bureaucracy that can and does make mistakes.
The SSA encourages the public to visit its Review Record of Earnings page to compare your income records to those it receives from your employer to ensure the numbers align. An error in just one earning year can dramatically impact your monthly payment.
Log in to your SSA.gov account to get started, or create one if you haven’t already. Alternatively, you can mail the agency a request for Social Security statement form or call 800-772-1213 for live assistance.
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Eliminate as Many $0 Years as Possible
The SSA averages your 35 highest earning years to determine your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). It then uses a formula to determine your primary insurance amount (PIA) and monthly payment.
The agency applies $0 to the missing years for those who worked fewer than 35, which drags down their average. Those with existing $0 years might continue working to replace as many nils as possible with income-generating years on the SSA’s tally.
Measure Your Ex-Spouse’s Benefit Against Your Own
According to Fidelity, tens of millions of divorced Americans are approaching retirement, and those who qualify should calculate their potential spousal benefit from their ex-partner before they apply for benefits based on their own work history.
Qualifying criteria include:
- You and your ex-spouse must be at least 62
- You must have been married for at least 10 consecutive years
- You must be divorced for at least two years
- You cannot be remarried
Those who qualify receive half of their ex-spouse’s PIA — the other person’s check is not impacted — provided they claim at full retirement age (FRA).
If You’re Not Yet 70, Keep Waiting
The surest way to guarantee a higher benefit or avoid a reduced one is to wait as long as possible to claim Social Security.
For those born in 1960 or later, the FRA — when recipients are guaranteed their entire benefit — is 67. However, you can claim benefits starting at 62, up to 60 months early.
The SSA rewards those who postpone claiming with delayed retirement credits but permanently reduces benefits for those who file early.
- The early retirement reduction is 5/9 of 1% for every month before FRA, up to 36 months. Beyond 36 months, the reduction is 5/12 of 1% per month up to 60 months.
- Those who claim as soon as they’re eligible suffer a permanent 30% reduction.
- Delayed retirement credits add 8% per year up to 124% of your full benefit until age 70, when credits end regardless of whether you claim.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Small Moves That Could Raise Your Social Security by Hundreds a Month
