Maybe you don’t know it, but the maximum Social Security benefits in 2025 vary significantly depending on the age at which the claim begins. At age 62, the monthly cap is $2,831, but waiting until age 70 brings the amount to $5,108 per month.
The adjustment mechanism operates through two key components. Claims filed before full retirement age (FRA) result in permanent reductions. Claims filed after FRA trigger deferred retirement credits. These increase the monthly base benefit.
Each year, your Social Security benefit increases by 8%
Specifically, the credits provide an 8% annual rate for each full year of delay after the FRA. This increase accumulates up to age 70. Thus, a maximum benefit of $5,108 at age 70 demonstrates the full impact of these credits. The calculation depends on the individual FRA.
The primary insurance amount (PIA) determines the reference amount for the FRA. This value is calculated using the average indexed earnings (AIME) from the 35 highest years of taxable income. The formula applies inflation indexing factors.
Claiming benefits at age 62, the earliest age allowed, triggers reductions. For people with an FRA of 66 years and 10 months, claiming at age 62 implies an early 58-month reduction. The reduction combines 5/9 of 1% for the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for the remaining 22 months.
Delaying your claim after the FRA eliminates reductions and adds credits. Each month of delay adds two-thirds of 1% to your benefit, equivalent to 8% annually. This increase ceases at age 70.
How to reach the maximum Social Security amounts
The values cited above ($2,831 at age 62; $5,108 at age 70) represent hypothetical cases. They require 35 full years of income at the annual taxable limit. By 2025, this threshold is $176,100. Fewer than 6% of taxpayers meet both criteria.
Recent studies indicate that deferring retirement until age 70 maximizes total income for life expectancies beyond 80-82 years. Higher payments compensate for the years without earnings.
Social Security payment dates in June 2025
June 2025 brings changes to the Social Security payment schedule that will affect millions of beneficiaries. If you depend on this income, take note of these key dates to better organize your budget.
You would normally receive your payment on June 1, but since that day falls on a Sunday, the deposit was made earlier: on Friday, May 30. This means that there won’t be another SSI payment for the entire month of June, so it’s important to carefully manage these funds to ensure they last until July.
For retirees and pensioners, here’s what you need to know:
- If your birthday is between the 1st and 10th of the month: Your money will arrive on Wednesday, June 11th.
- If you were born between the 11th and the 20th: Originally, your due date was the 19th, but due to the Juneteenth holiday, you’ll receive it a day earlier: Tuesday, June 18th.
- Birthdays between the 21st and 31st: Your payment date will be Wednesday, June 25th.
If you began receiving benefits before May 1997 (you’ve been in the program for almost 30 years), your payment will arrive on Tuesday, June 3, regardless of your date of birth.
