Key Points
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Claiming the maximum Social Security benefit requires you to pay the maximum payroll taxes for 35 years, then wait to apply till you’re 70.
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This isn’t realistic for most people.
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Understanding how Social Security benefits are calculated can help you boost your checks.
We don’t know what the maximum 2027 Social Security benefit will be yet, but the steps to claiming it are clear: Apply for benefits at age 70, after paying the maximum Social Security payroll tax for at least 35 years. But there’s a big difference between knowing what you need to do to claim the largest benefit checks and actually being able to pull it off.
For most people, the largest Social Security benefit will remain out of reach. But understanding why the following three factors lead to the largest checks can help you identify strategies to squeeze more out of the program.
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1. Work for at least 35 years before retiring
Your Social Security benefit is based on your average monthly earnings over your 35 highest-earning years. You can qualify for a retirement benefit with as little as 10 years of work history, but you might get less than you expect to.
When you haven’t worked at least 35 years, you’ll have zero-income years factored into your benefit calculation that reduce your checks. But there’s no downside to working longer, especially if you’re earning more now than in the past. After you’ve crossed the 35-year mark, your more recent higher-earning years start to push your earlier lower-earning years out of your benefit calculation.
2. Pay maximum Social Security taxes for at least 35 years
You earn the largest Social Security benefit by paying the maximum Social Security tax in all 35 of your highest-earning years. In 2026, you pay payroll taxes on the first $184,500 you earn. The ceiling on income subject to this payroll tax increases slightly each year.
Most people don’t earn six figures, so claiming the largest Social Security benefit is out of the question for them. But anything you can do today to increase your future benefit, like negotiating a raise or finding a better-paying position, could result in bigger checks down the road.
3. Apply at age 70
The Social Security Administration first calculates your benefit at your full retirement age (FRA) — 67 for most people today — and then adjusts this amount up or down based on your actual age when you sign up. Claiming Social Security at less than your FRA reduces your benefit by up to 30%.
Delaying your application gradually increases the size of your checks, and this continues until you qualify for your maximum benefit at 70. However, waiting to sign up for Social Security isn’t the right move for everyone.
You may prefer to apply for Social Security sooner if you’re financially unable to delay, and you might come out ahead by signing up early if you have a shorter life expectancy. Consider a range of claiming ages before deciding when to apply for benefits.
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