The average senior collects just over $1,800 per month in Social Security payments, far less than the current (2025) $5,108 SS limit. While it's not possible for everyone to reach the max payment, there are things you can do to increase your monthly benefits so you'll have the financial security you need as you get on in years.

Maximize Earnings

Your work history plays a major role in determining how much money you’ll get every month because the Social Security Administration uses your 35 highest-paid years in the labor force to calculate your monthly benefit. If you've worked for less than 35 years, the income listed in your benefits calculation will be $0 for the years you didn't work. This will leave you ineligible for the highest possible SS payment.

At the same time, those who have worked for 35 or more years may want to check their earnings to see postponing retirement will increase their income and thus their SS payments. If you earned far less early on in your career than you do now, additional work years will increase your benefits.

Timing Your Social Security Filing

You can claim Social Security benefits as soon as you turn 62, and getting benefits at an early age can be the best option for many people. If you need the income and/or have health problems that will likely impact your longevity, you may want to sign up for payments as soon as possible. However, bear in mind that claiming benefits before you hit full retirement age (FRA) can lower your benefit payments by as much as 30%.

Each year you wait to file for Social Security, you'll see an 8% increase in your payments. You can add extra money to your monthly payments up until you're 70 years old. What's more, the older you get, the more likely you are to fully retire, which gives you access to greater benefits. If you're under the FRA and you still work while claiming SS payments, the SSA will deduct money from your benefits if you earn over a certain amount.

Consider Your Benefit Options

If a current, former, or deceased spouse earned significantly more income than you did, you may be eligible to receive more SS income if you claim spousal or survivor's benefits instead of your own. To be eligible, you must either be married or have been married to your former or deceased spouse for more than 10 years. The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of the other party's primary benefit, but the survivor's benefit can be as high as 100% of the deceased spouse's benefits.

You can receive survivor's benefits as soon as you turn 60, or receive spousal benefits as soon as you turn 62. However, payments will increase in size if you delay filing until you're 67 years old.

How to File for Social Security Benefits

Once you know when you want to start receiving benefits, it's time to start filling out an application. You can apply up to four months before you want to start receiving benefits. However, if you're planning on getting benefits as soon as you turn 62, bear in mind that the SSA looks at your exact birthdate to determine when you're eligible for payments. You have to be 62 for the entire month before you can receive SS benefits, which means people who are born in the middle or at the end of a month aren't eligible for payments until the end of the month after their birthday.

You can apply for SS benefits in person at an SS office, over the phone, or online. The Social Security website has a handy checklist with all the documents you'll need to have in order to fill out an application, so be sure to collect these before you start filing. If the SSA needs more paperwork from you, you'll be notified and asked to provide additional documentation. Once your application has been reviewed and accepted, you'll start receiving payments one month after the month the payments are due.

The Social Security Administration allows applicants to change their minds about payments for up to 12 months after applying for benefits. If you decide that you want to delay payments, you can let the SS office know about your decision and have payments delayed until the starting date of your choice. However, you will need to repay any benefits the SSA has already sent you.

Social Security payments can be a huge boost to your retirement income, and you'll want to make that boost count as much as possible. To earn maximum benefits, consider your personal goals, health, work history, and other factors to decide on the best time to apply for payments. Careful research and financial planning can help you enjoy your golden years to the full, without having to worry about a shortfall in income.