It’s never too early to start thinking about this.
Is my Social Security income taxable? Guidelines to follow for the 2026 tax season.
Are your Social Security benefits taxable? For many Americans, the answer is yes.
The maximum Social Security check amount looks about to get better in 2026. The wealthiest recipients currently take home $5,251 a month, or more than $63,000 a year. And thanks to cost-of-living adjustments, their checks will only increase over time.
If you want to join this elite group, there are three boxes you need to check before applying. Achieving this requires considerable effort.
1. Work for at least 35 years before retiring
The Social Security Administration calculates your monthly retirement benefits by adjusting for inflation your most earned 35 years of income. You can apply before you reach 35 years of service, but doing so will reduce the size of your check because any period of zero income will be included in your benefit calculation.
But there are no downsides to working for 35+ years. If your income is higher than in previous years, your most recent high-earning years will begin to exclude previous, low-income years from benefit calculations, increasing the size of your check.
2. Pay the maximum amount of Social Security taxes
To take home the biggest check, you must pay the highest amount of Social Security taxes in all 35 years of your highest earnings. In 2026, that means earning at least $184,500 at work. In the past, the limit was much lower.
This is a measure that prevents most people from claiming the maximum Social Security check. You may not earn enough to receive the maximum benefit, but you can do your best to increase your income starting now. Working overtime, securing a raise, or finding a higher-paying job elsewhere can all help increase your future Social Security benefits.
3. Apply for benefits when you turn 70
You can claim Social Security starting at age 62, but if you want the biggest check possible, you’ll have to wait until age 70. Each month you delay your application, your benefits will increase gradually, and the rate of increase will accelerate over time.
Many people receive the maximum lifetime benefit by filing at age 70, but that’s not the right strategy for everyone. If you don’t have much time left to live or if you don’t have any other sources of retirement income to cover your expenses until you’re ready to file, it’s a good idea to enroll in Social Security early.
Even if you don’t secure the maximum Social Security benefit, you can use the tips above to receive a bigger check. Do everything you can to increase your income and carefully decide when to apply for Social Security based on your financial situation and life expectancy. You should also save as much as possible yourself to supplement your benefits.
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