Want the Max $5,251 Social Security Benefit? Here’s the Salary You Need.

Although this year’s average monthly Social Security retirement benefits payment is $2,071, a handful of retirees are faring far better. They’re collecting the maximum monthly payment of $5,181.Image source: Getty Images.What did these people do differently than everyone else? A small handful of things, like waiting until they turned 70 to file for benefits, or earning taxable wages for a minimum of 35 years. Perhaps the most important thing these retirees did, however, is earning at least enough money every year they worked to reach or exceed Social Security’s maximum-taxable income ceiling. This year the program only taxes income of up to $184,500, since any further taxation beyond that amount wouldn’t add any additional future benefits. The table below lists this maximum-taxable threshold for every year going all the way back to 1987.Continue readinghttps://www.fool.com/retirement/2026/03/01/want-the-max-5251-social-security-benefit-heres-th/