Personal Finance

The Largest Social Security Check Baby Boomers Can Receive in 2025

Christy Bieber

Published: February 4, 2025 11:15 am

Last Updated: February 4, 2025 12:05 pm

Baby Boomers are currently between the ages of 61 and 79. Many people within this age group are already receiving Social Security while a good number have yet to claim their benefits.  For those who have retired, Social Security benefits are likely an important income source — but they are not a generous enough income source to provide the full amount Boomers will need to live on.

So, just how much can Boomers get from Social Security in 2025? Here’s what you need to know. 

How much is the maximum benefit Social Security benefit available to Boomers?

Since Social Security doesn’t become available until you are at least 62 years old, the maximum benefit for someone who is 61 is $0.  For those who have become eligible for benefits already, the maximum amount that they can receive each month varies based on age. According to the Social Security Administration, here are the maximum benefits amounts for 2025 based on retirement age:

• If you retire at 62 in 2025, your max benefit is $2,831
• If you retire at full retirement age in 2025, your maximum benefit is $4,018
• If you retire at 70 in 2025, your maximum benefit is $5,108.

There is a big discrepancy between these amounts. That’s because early filers are hit with penalties, while late filers get delayed retirement credits to increase their payment.  Only those who claim right at full retirement age are entitled to their standard benefit. That’s the amount due based on average earnings during their 35 highest earning years. 

These max benefits show just how big of a difference your claiming age makes. You could receive thousands more each month for putting off Social Security as long as possible. 

Even the maximum benefit isn’t enough to live on

Sadly, as these numbers show, even the maximum benefit typically is not going to provide enough income for Social Security to be your sole source of support. That’s especially true when you consider what it takes to earn these maximum benefits. Specifically, in order to be eligible for the biggest possible Social Security payment, you must:

• Earn at least the maximum taxable wage for 35 full years (or longer)
• Wait to claim Social Security until 70

The first requirement is necessary because benefits are based on average wages in your 35 highest earning years — but there is a cap on the wages that are subject to Social Security tax and counted in your average wage calculation. It’s called the wage base limit. It’s $176,100 in 2025 and the inflation-adjusted equivalent of that amount in other years. If you earn above this, you don’t pay Social Security tax on the additional income and don’t get credit for the extra wages when benefits are calculated. 

If you’ve been consistently one of the top earners in the country and managed to max out your average wage for all 35 years included in the formula that determines your benefits, you’ll also need to wait to start your first payment until 70 to get the maximum benefit. That’s so you can increase the standard benefit as much as possible. This explains why the max benefit is so much lower for Boomers who claim at 62 (the earliest age allowed) rather than 70 (the age when you stop earning additional benefits for waiting). 

Boomers need to be aware of these average benefit amounts so they can be realistic about what Social Security can do. Any Boomer who earned below the wage base limit is going to see a smaller benefit, and those who claim at a younger age will also get far less money from the Social Security Administration to fund their retirement needs.