That amount is ultimately based on the wages you were taxed on during the 35 years that you earned the most. So, to get the maximum benefit available, you would need to have earned the maximum taxable earnings for at least 35 years. As you can see from the numbers above, the maximum taxable earnings are well above what most people make. With the median income being $51,480 as of the second quarter of 2021, you'd need to earn more than double what the typical American earns to be on track to get the maximum benefit. Then, after earning a very high salary for at least 35 years, you'd also need to wait until 70 to claim benefits to get the largest possible amount.

Source: Daily Sun October 03, 2021 11:48 UTC