Social Security Maximum

Published: 8/3/2019

Few people will receive the maximum possible benefit, but how high is the maximum? The short answer is that the maximum monthly Social Security benefit that an individual who files a claim in 2023 can receive is:

$4,555 / month

In order to reach this high of a benefit, someone must have:

• Waited until age 70 to file for benefits
• Earned at least the maximum taxable earnings for at least 35 years of their life.

You can see what the per-year maximum taxable earnings are from the Social Security Adminstration's maximum taxble income table.

Different filing ages

At other filing ages, the maximum possible benefit would be smaller:

• $3,627 / month at age 66
• $2,572 / month at age 62

The social security calculator will allow you to see the benefit at any starting age, for any earnings record.

Spousal benefit

The spouse of someone earning the maximum monthly benefit would also be eligible to earn a spousal benefit on the same record of as much as half of the primary earner's benefit.

In the case of the primary earner earning the maximum benefit of $4,555 / month, the spouse would also be eligible for an additional maximum benefit of $2,277 / month. This would take the total benefit for this family to $6,832 / month. If the spouse also had maxed out his or her own record, the total benefit for the two maximum personal benefits is simply double a single personal benefit, which is $9,110 / month.