In 2025, the maximum monthly benefit Social Security will pay is $5,108. To be clear, though, that's higher than the program's maximum benefit at full retirement age this year. Those looking at $5,108 a month in Social Security need to delay their claims until the age of 70 to lock in payments that high.

The average 67-year-old retired worker gets $1,883.50 per month from their Social Security benefit, which is $22,602 per year. This is slightly less than the $1,905.31 average benefit paid to retired workers,

Whether you're ready to apply or looking to learn more about applying for Social Security, we'll fill you in on the details.

There’s a reason some people aim to file for Social Security at age 70 despite being entitled to their monthly benefits without a reduction much sooner than that. For each year a Social Security claim is delayed past full retirement age (FRA),

Social Security spousal benefits depend on the claim age of the spouse and the primary insurance amount (PIA) of the retired worker on whose record they claim benefits. The term PIA references the benefit a retired worker will receive if they start Social Security at full retirement age (FRA), which is age 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

During that time, Social Security retirement benefits have also experienced a change. In 2005, the average monthly Social Security benefit was $1,002, or just over $12,000 annually. To start this year, the average monthly benefit for a retired worker was $1,975.

If you’re like most seniors, you’ll rely on  Social Security to provide a good portion of your income once you retire. But, it can be hard to figure out exactly what role Social Security will play in supporting you if you don’t know how much money you’ll get from the benefits program.

The nonpartisan Senior Citizens League expects the COLA to be 2.3% for 2026, based on a forecast that inflation will drop throughout the coming year. Another forecast by independent Social Security and Medicare analyst Mary Johnson puts the expected COLA increase at 2.1%.

The Social Security Agency at this point does not have a specific timeframe as to when benefits will be adjusted.

Once its trust funds are emptied, Social Security may have to cut benefits. The Social Security Trustees say it could happen as early as 2035.

If a financially well-off individual had multiple ex-spouses, could it happen that the multiple ex-spouses could each be collecting Social Security based on their own financial situation as compared to their rich ex-spouses?