Social Security check increase by $460 – Here’s how to get the boost

There is an unknown approach that could help retirees raise their monthly Social Security check by more than 24% over three years. On average, retired workers receive $1,900 in monthly benefits per month, totaling $22,980 annually. Some retirees can utilize this payout to cover a portion of their living expenses, but most people will struggle to enjoy their retirement if they rely solely on this source of income. That is why we would want to share with you a method for increasing your monthly benefits by $460; however, this is not for everyone. If you are looking forward to applying for retirement benefits soon, learn more about what you need to do to get this increase. 

How does the SSA calculate your Social Security check?

Understanding how the federal agency calculates payments is essential to maximizing your Social Security income. First, figure out what your primary insurance amount (PIA) is. The Social Security benefit formula, which accounts for your average monthly pay over the 35 years of your best earning years after accounting for inflation, is used by the government to compute this. Your qualifying amount is called your primary insurance amount (PIA) when you reach full retirement age (FRA). This is between 66 and 67 in 2024, but seniors choose not to make a benefit claim at that time.

In other words, if seniors decide to claim their Social Security benefits before their full retirement age (FRA), they could risk losing between 1% per month, or nearly 6.7% annually, just for claiming benefits 36 months early. Therefore, deciding when to claim benefits is one of the most important issues American seniors should think about because claiming early could affect their future monthly payment amounts. 

The strategy to increase your Social Security check by 460 

One method to raise your monthly payment is to delay claiming your Social Security payments until after you reach full retirement age (FRA). In this scenario, you will receive two-thirds of one percent per month or eight percent annually if you defer benefits until you turn seventy-one. This allows workers with a FRA of 67 to get a benefit boost of up to 24 percent. Your payments would rise by $460 if you were qualified for the average monthly benefit of $1,915 at your FRA of 67.

However, if you want to do this, you need to be sure because there is a trade-off. As you get older, you will have to give up some benefits to get the maximum payment because not everyone will be able to reach it. For example, you may be forced to take Social Security early to pay your expenses if you have worked your entire career to save money for retirement and are currently unable to work.

In addition, delaying the Social Security check is not always a wise idea for all seniors, even if they can afford to do so. If seniors do not live into their 70s, this technique may result in larger monthly payments, but it may also lower their lifetime monthly checks. People who think they will not live long usually get the most benefits overall by claiming Social Security as long as they can.

What if you want to claim your Social Security check before reaching 70?

Seniors may be unable to defer their Social Security benefits in some circumstances owing to health or financial limits. They can, however, raise their wages by using the information provided, as well as their retirement benefits by claiming them at age 63 rather than 62. Keep in mind that waiting one month to claim could add $8 to $13 to the typical monthly Social Security payment. For those who want to boost their checks a little, it may be better to wait a little longer than expected before claiming than to wait until age 70. Don’t forget that your decision about whether to claim Social Security benefits should be based on your life expectancy and how long you feel you can afford to delay claiming them.