By James Royal
From Bankrate.com
Social Security provides a secure, fixed income to retirees and others, helping many to afford their golden years. Given the fact that you get reliable money for the rest of your life, many people want to max out their monthly check. But how do you do that?
Broadly speaking, you have three levers to max out your Social Security income: Work longer. The more years you work, the more money Social Security will pay, up to your best 35 years of income.
Earn more. If you pay more into the Social Security system, your payout later will be larger, up to a point.
Delay your benefit. If you wait longer to claim your benefit—up to age 70—you’ll claim a higher monthly payment. But those methods are only part of the story, and those looking for a bigger benefit check have a few other ways to boost their payout….