Retiring at 66? Here’s How to Max Out Your Social Security Check to $4,018!

If you’re getting closer to retirement and wondering how much Social Security will actually give you, you’re probably not alone. The idea of getting $4,018 a month sounds pretty good, right? But before you start picturing your retirement in luxury, let’s take a closer look at who actually gets that amount, when the payments are made, and how you can figure out what you might be getting.

Who Gets That $4,018 a Month?

The $4,018 is the maximum Social Security benefit for someone who reaches full retirement age (FRA), which for most people right now is 66 (if you were born later, it could be 67).

But don’t get too excited just yet—getting the full $4,018 each month isn’t the norm. There are a couple of key things you need to qualify for that amount:

1. You’ve Had a Good Income for a Long Time

To get the maximum Social Security benefit, you’d need to have earned the maximum taxable income ($176,100 in 2025) for at least 35 years. If you’ve been working at high-paying jobs for a long time, you might be in a good spot.

2. You Waited Until Full Retirement Age (FRA)

If you start collecting Social Security earlier than your FRA (like at 62), your monthly payment will be less than the maximum. But if you wait until your FRA (or even later), your benefits will be higher.

Just so you know, most people don’t hit that maximum amount. In 2025, the average monthly check is around $1,980. So, even though $4,018 is possible, it’s not common.

When Will You Get Your Payment?

Social Security payments are sent out based on your birth date. Here’s when to expect your check for May 2025:

• If your birthday is between the 1st and 10th: You’ll get your payment on May 14.

• If your birthday is between the 11th and 20th: Your payment will arrive on May 21.

• If your birthday is between the 21st and 31st: Expect it on May 28.

One thing to note—if you started receiving benefits before May 1997, or if you’re also getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your payment will be a little earlier, on May 2.

If You Get SSI, Here’s What You Should Know

For those of you who also get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), May is a little different. You’ll actually get two payments:

• May 1: Your regular SSI payment.

• May 30: An early payment for June (since June 1st falls on a weekend).

This happens a few times a year, so it’s helpful to keep track of when those early payments will come in.

A Little Extra: The 2025 COLA Adjustment

Each year, Social Security makes adjustments for inflation, known as the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This year, benefits went up by 2.5%, which means the average check will go up by around $50 a month.

It may not seem like a huge jump, but when you’re living on a fixed income, every little bit helps—especially when prices for everything from groceries to gas keep going up.

How Can You Find Out Exactly What You’ll Get?

Not sure what your monthly benefit will be? You can easily check using a couple of tools:

1. Check your Social Security Statement:
   Head over to SSA.gov and create a free “my Social Security” account. You’ll be able to see an estimate of your monthly benefit based on your actual work history. It only takes a few minutes to sign up.

2. Use the Retirement Estimator:
   This is a handy tool where you can play around with different retirement ages. It’ll show you how much you could get if you claim early, at 66, or even wait until 70.

Planning for Your Future

Social Security can be a big part of your retirement income, but it’s not the whole story. Even if you don’t get that $4,018 check every month, it’s still important to know how much you can expect so you can plan ahead.