10 Ways to Maximize Your Social Security Checks

The federal government runs the Social Security program and decides how to calculate benefits. It might seem like there's not much you can do to influence that, but you'd be surprised.

Once you understand how the government calculates benefits, you can leverage this knowledge for your own gain. Try the following 10 tips to increase your Social Security benefits in retirement.

The $17,166 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $17,166 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

The first step in your Social Security benefit calculation is figuring out your average indexed monthly earnings, or AIME. This is your average monthly income over your 35 highest-earning years with adjustments for inflation.

When you haven't worked for at least 35 years, the government adds zero-income years to that calculation, which drops your benefit considerably. So, whenever possible, work at least 35 years, and longer if you can. If you're earning more later in your career, working longer can be advantageous because your more recent, higher-earning years will eventually replace your earlier, lower-earning years in your benefit calculation.

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Anything you can do today to increase your income will also help boost your AIME, as long as you're paying Social Security taxes on that money. In 2021, you only pay these taxes on the first $142,800 you earn.

You could boost your income by pursuing a promotion, working overtime, starting a side hustle, or switching fields or employers.

The Social Security Administration records how much income you've paid Social Security taxes on every year in your earnings record. You can view yours by creating a my Social Security account.

Check yours at least once per year to make sure it's accurate. If there's an error, it could unfairly shrink your benefit. Should you find one, fill out a Request for Correction of Earnings Record form and submit it, along with any documentation you have to prove your real income for the year, to the Social Security Administration.

You must wait until your full retirement age (FRA) to get the full Social Security benefit you're entitled to. That's somewhere between 66 and 67 for today's workers. You can start claiming as early as 62, but this will reduce your benefits by up to 30%. Every month you delay benefits increases your checks slightly until you reach your maximum benefit at 70.

The right starting age depends on your life expectancy and your financial status. If you don't think you'll live past your 70s, you'll probably get more money overall by starting early. Otherwise, delaying is probably wise. But not everyone can afford to delay benefits even if they'd like to, so you also have to consider how much personal savings you have.

ALSO READ: Only 16% of Americans Know This Crucial Social Security Number

Married couples should decide together when each spouse should sign up for benefits to get the most out of the program. When you're married, you can claim benefits based on your own work record if you've worked for at least 10 years, or you can claim a spousal benefit, which is up to 50% of your spouse's benefit at his or her FRA. The Social Security Administration automatically gives you whichever is higher, but you can't get a spousal benefit until your spouse signs up.

When both partners have earned similar amounts over their lifetimes, it makes sense for both to delay as long as possible if they're trying to get the most money overall. But if one has significantly outearned the other, it's more important for the higher earner to delay. The lower earner can start early, if necessary, to help the higher earner delay. Then, once the higher earner signs up, the lower earner can claim a spousal benefit if it'll provide more money.

The $17,166 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $17,166 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

Divorced individuals may be able to increase their benefits by claiming ex-spousal benefits. These are basically the same as spousal benefits, except you can claim them without being married.

Ex-spousal benefits are only available to individuals who were married to their ex for at least 10 years and have not remarried. You can sign up at any time after you turn 62 if your ex has already claimed. If not, you can still sign up at any time as long as you've been divorced for at least two years. This is true even if your ex hasn't claimed yet. Claiming ex-spousal benefits won't affect your ex's benefit or his or her new spouse's benefit, if your ex has remarried.

Survivors benefits are available to the family members of qualifying deceased workers. How much you qualify for and when you can claim depends upon the worker's benefit, your age, and your relationship to the deceased.

If you want to claim these benefits, you need to have documents to prove your relationship to the deceased. Reach out to the Social Security Administration to find out what you need and whether you qualify.

ALSO READ: Want an Extra $370 per Month in Social Security Benefits? Here's How to Get It

Though uncommon, if you have minor or disabled children when you sign up for Social Security, those children may also qualify for Social Security benefits on your work record. Claiming these can help increase your household benefits.

Check with the Social Security Administration if you believe others in your household may be entitled to benefits on your behalf.

There's no rule saying you can't work and claim Social Security at the same time, but doing so could be problematic, especially if you're under your FRA. If you'll be under your FRA for all of 2021, the government withholds $1 from your checks for every $2 you earn over $18,960. If you'll reach your FRA in 2021, you lose $1 for every $3 you earn over $50,520, if you hit this amount before your birthday.

This money isn't gone forever. Once you reach your FRA, the government recalculates your benefit to include the amount it withheld in previous years. But rather than dealing with this hassle, you may as well delay benefits until you retire.

The federal government could tax your benefits if your provisional income -- adjusted gross income (AGI) plus any nontaxable interest and half your Social Security benefits -- exceeds $25,000 for a single adult or $32,000 for a married couple. It may not be possible for everyone to keep their income below these thresholds, but if you can, you'll save yourself a lot of money.

Some states tax Social Security benefits as well. Each state has its own rules as to who owes benefit taxes and how it calculates these taxes. Check with your state's department of taxation to learn more about whether you could owe state benefit taxes.

The $17,166 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $17,166 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

Hopefully, the tips here gave you a few ideas on how to maximize your Social Security benefits. Now it's time to put them into practice. Go back through these tips and select one or two to start with.

Keep all of them in mind as you continue on through your career, and stay abreast of any changes to Social Security that could affect your benefits. Adapt to these changes as necessary to give yourself the best chance at huge benefit checks.

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