The maximum retirement check of $4,555 in the United States may be unattainable for most. However, all citizens can have a check close to that. At the end of the day, retirement depends on our time as a worker.
Therefore, if we want to get a good retirement check in the future we must be very careful about what we do at work. Every year worked is key to getting the best Social Security benefit possible in the end.
Checks depend on three basic factors. If we maximize these three factors we will get the best payout within our means. But keep in mind that one of these elements is sometimes out of our control.
For that reason, the two basic tricks consist precisely in maximizing the other two elements. The uncontrollable element is the retirement age. It is true that we can choose the age we want, but sometimes it is not 100% up to us.
Thus, citizens must take into account the other two aspects. On the one hand, the salary as a worker. On the other hand, the years worked. Maximizing these two elements we will get a good Social Security check.
Therefore, the two basic tricks to increase the payment are those two. We must work a minimum of 35 years before applying for retirement. In addition, we must get the best possible salary. If we use these two tricks, the retirement age will not matter.
However, we must remember that the retirement age will subtract quite a bit of money from the final check depending on what it is. At 62 is the minimum age and we will lose 30% of the check. From then on, we will lose less money as we approach 67 years of age.
The final decision is totally individual. But we must take into account these two tricks and, in addition, the year of retirement.