Social Security calculates monthly benefits based on your 35 highest-earning years. To receive the maximum benefit, you must earn above the wage base limit for 35 years. Monthly benefits are adjusted if claimed before or after full retirement age. In 2026, Social Security recipients will see a 2.8% increase in benefits, with those receiving the maximum benefit seeing a larger dollar increase. The wage base limit for 2026 is $184,500, and to qualify for the maximum benefit, you must have earned at least this amount in the 35 years used for benefit calculations. The maximum benefits in 2026 range from $2,969 to $5,251.

Read more at Nasdaq: Here Are the Maximum Possible Social Security Benefits at Ages 62, 67, and 70 in 2026