Social Security benefits are a lifeline for millions of retirees, so it can be a good idea to maximize them the best you can. The average retiree collects around $1,925 per month in benefits as of November 2024, but a few simple strategies could help boost your payments by hundreds of dollars per month.
Perhaps the easiest way to increase your benefit amount is to delay claiming. Every month you wait past age 62 will earn you larger checks, and those payments will max out at age 70.
But delaying benefits isn't the only way to increase your monthly income, and there are a few lesser-known strategies that could help you earn more than you might think.
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1. Apply for spousal or divorce benefits
If you're currently married and your spouse is entitled to either retirement or disability Social Security, you could collect up to 50% of their full benefit amount in spousal benefits.
Divorced spouses can also qualify for these benefits, as long as you're not currently married and your previous marriage lasted for at least 10 years. If you've been divorced for fewer than two years, you'll also need to wait to file until your ex-spouse begins claiming.
You can collect spousal or divorce benefits whether or not you qualify for retirement benefits based on your own work record. But if you are receiving retirement benefits, you'll only collect the higher of the two amounts -- not both.
So, for instance, say you're eligible for $800 per month in retirement benefits but can receive $1,000 per month in spousal benefits. In this case, the Social Security Administration will pay out your $800 per month first, then you'll receive an additional $200 per month in spousal benefits so that your total payment is $1,000 per month.
2. Continue working after taking Social Security
Working while receiving Social Security can not only increase your overall income, but it could also boost your monthly benefit.
If you're under your full retirement age, your benefit could be reduced depending on how much you're earning from your job. But these reductions aren't permanent, and you'll begin receiving adjusted payments at your full retirement age to account for any money that was withheld.
| Income Limits | Benefit Reductions | |
|---|---|---|
| If you're under full retirement age in 2025 | $23,400 per year | $1 reduction for every $2 over the limit |
| If you'll reach your full retirement age in 2025 | $62,160 per year | $1 reduction for every $3 over the limit |
Source: Social Security Administration. Table by author.
Exactly how much more you'll receive once your payments are adjusted will depend on how much you had withheld due to your earnings. The higher your income, the larger the reductions will be -- which will result in larger adjusted payments.
This strategy will mostly benefit those who were already planning on working while taking Social Security anyway. But if you're on the fence about whether to go back to work or not, the larger checks you might receive could help with that decision.
3. Contribute to a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k)
Saving in a Roth account may not necessarily increase your benefit amount, but it can lower your tax bill -- helping you keep more of your money.
Social Security can be subject to both state and federal taxes. A whopping 41 states don't tax benefits, though, so you may already be off the hook in that regard. But federal taxes depend on a figure called your combined income, which includes your adjusted gross income (including retirement account withdrawals), nontaxable interest, and half of your annual benefit amount.
| Percentage of Your Benefit Subject to Federal Taxes | Combined Income for Individuals | Combined Income for Married Couples Filing Jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | Under $25,000 per year | Under $32,000 per year |
| Up to 50% | $25,000 to $34,000 per year | $32,000 to $44,000 per year |
| up to 85% | More than $34,000 per year | More than $44,000 per year |
Source: Social Security Administration. Table by author.
However, there's a caveat here: Roth account contributions don't count toward your combined income. If a good chunk of your savings are in a Roth IRA or Roth 401(k), you could reduce your combined income enough to fall into a lower tax bracket -- or even avoid federal taxes on your benefits altogether.
If you're going to be relying on Social Security in retirement, it pays to make the most of it. With the right strategy, you could boost your monthly payments and build a more financially secure future.
