What's the Maximum Social Security Benefit?

Q. What’s the maximum monthly Social Security retirement benefit a person can receive?

A. The maximum benefit depends on the age at which a worker retires. For a worker retiring this year at age 66, the full retirement age, the highest monthly amount is $2,346. This figure is based on earnings at the maximum taxable amount for every year after age 21. In 2009, the average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker was about $1,153. For more information on this and other topics, go to www.ssa.gov.

Source: Social Security Administration. Send your questions to: Ask the Experts, AARP Bulletin, askourexperts@aarp.org. Check out www.aarp.org/bulletin for previously asked questions and answers.

Carole Fleck is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin.