Social Security benefits play a big financial role for many retirees, and increasing their Social Security check can give them a little breathing room in retirement.
Watch Out: 3 Big Challenges Facing Social Security in 2026
Read next: 4 Safe Accounts Proven to Grow Your Money Up to 13x Faster
To see what everyday people can do to boost their Social Security benefits, ChatGPT was asked how to maximize their Social Security check. Here’s what it says and how to apply the advice.
According to ChatGPT, the best way to maximize your Social Security check is to delay claiming as long as you can. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says your benefit grows by about 8% a year for each year you wait until full retirement age, up to age 70.
If you’re still working or have other sources of income, ChatGPT recommends using it to cover the basics and delay Social Security.
Find out: What is the highest Social Security check in a month?
Social Security is based on your highest earnings for 35 years. While you need at least 10 years of work to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, according to the SSA, the agency bases your benefit amount on your highest earnings over 35 years.
ChatGPT suggested working a few extra years to make up for the low or zero income years. If you don’t have 35 years of work history, your benefit amount will be lower.
Even if you work for 35 years, your earnings are averaged in your calculation and affect your benefit. But if you continue to work and increase your earnings, the high-earning years near retirement can replace earlier low-earning years, according to the SSA.
To increase income, ChatGPT suggested negotiating your salary if you are nearing retirement; Consulting, freelancing or overtime if available; Or choosing a sideline that pays into Social Security.
According to the SSA, the spousal benefit can be up to 50% of the highest earnings benefit, even if you’ve never worked much. You may be eligible if you don’t have enough work credits for your Social Security retirement benefit or higher spousal benefits, if you’re married or divorced.
ChatGPT recommends married couples compare both claim strategies, rather than claiming at the same time. And if you’re divorced and the marriage lasted more than 10 years, you may qualify on the ex-spouse’s record.
If you claim Social Security before full retirement age (FRA) and earn more than the annual threshold — $24,480 — in 2026, the SSA will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above that amount. In the year you reach the FRA, the agency will deduct $1 for every $3 you earn above that limit. The year you reach FRA, the limit is $65,160.
