How Do You Maximize Social Security Benefits? 7 Strategies That Work

Strategies 1-3: Building a Higher Benefit

1. Work 35 years: Your benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If you have fewer than 35 years, zeros are averaged in. Even one more year of work can replace a zero and increase your PIA.

2. Earn above the wage base: Only earnings up to $176,100 (2025) are subject to SS tax and count toward your benefit. But higher years replace lower ones in the top-35 average.

3. Delay claiming: Every year you delay from 62 to 70 increases your benefit by approximately 6-8% per year. At 62: 70% of PIA. At 67 (FRA): 100% of PIA. At 70: 124% of PIA. For a PIA of $2,500, that's $1,750/month at 62 vs. $3,100/month at 70.

Strategies 4-7: Coordination and Optimization

4. Coordinate spousal claiming: The higher earner should generally delay to 70 to maximize the survivor benefit. The lower earner's strategy depends on the gap between their own benefit and the spousal benefit.

5. Divorced spousal benefits: If married 10+ years and currently unmarried, you can claim up to 50% of your ex-spouse's PIA — without reducing their benefit.

6. Manage the earnings test: If working before FRA, keep earnings below $22,320 to avoid benefit withholding. Or accept the withholding knowing it's restored at FRA.

7. Control benefit taxation: Roth withdrawals don't count as provisional income, keeping more SS benefits in the 0% or 50% taxable range. Each dollar of avoided SS taxation saves $0.22-$0.37 in federal tax.

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