The variants when it comes to maximizing the Social Security check for United States residents are always the same. In other words, the rules of the game do not change over the years. They may vary a bit, but there are three elements that are fundamental if we are thinking about getting the biggest Social Security check possible.
Any citizen can reach the $4,558 per month that the Social Security Administration awards as a maximum in the year 2023. However, all the work we need to do to reach that figure may not be worth it. So worrying about getting the biggest Social Security check above all other life concerns should not be our goal.
Still, it goes without saying that we should always try to get the maximum monthly check. The more money we get every month from Social Security, the better retirement will be. That is, unless we have to sacrifice other, more important things in order to achieve this amount. Let’s look at the reasons why we shouldn’t worry about maxing out Social Security.
Reasons why it’s better not to worry about Social Security
The maximum check is $4,558, as we have previously discussed. However, getting this cheque can be a very difficult task. For these reasons we should put the idea of reaching the maximum amount out of our minds:
- Our health is at risk. If we see that health is in jeopardy when it comes to maximizing the Social Security check, we must rethink the situation. We can’t put retirement ahead of our health. We can always find alternative sources of income.
- We have money saved. Saving money is key to a good retirement. Not only maximizing the Social Security check is important, but also saving as much money as possible.
- We can have a retirement plan. Whether through an IRA or 401(k), opening a retirement plan that allows us to receive extra money in the future is the best option for retirement. This will make maximizing the monthly payment less important.
Still, as we have already discussed, getting the best check within our means will make for the best golden years. Of course, we must always keep in mind our limits and do the best we can without making our working life worse.