Kailey Hagen, The Motley Fool

Fri, Jun 27, 2025, 12:00 AM4 min read

• The more you save during your working years, the easier it will be for you to delay your Social Security claim.

• Working part-time or delaying retirement are also options if you don't have a lot of personal savings.

• Every month you delay, Social Security increases your checks, so you don't have to wait until age 70 to start seeing higher benefits.

• The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›

The data about the ideal Social Security claiming age is pretty clear: Unless you have a short life expectancy, delaying until 70 will probably get you the largest lifetime benefit. A 2022 paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that more than 90% of Americans should claim at 70 if they want to get the most from the program.

This is because every month you delay Social Security increases your checks a little until you qualify for your maximum at 70. However, waiting to sign up is easier said than done.

Many people can't afford to delay their application, even if they would like to. If you're in that boat, the following three strategies could help you put off your benefits for a little bit longer so you can lock in bigger checks.

This may sound like a no-brainer, but it's worth bearing in mind if you're a long way from retirement. The more money you save now, the easier it will be to cover your retirement costs on your own until you're ready to apply for Social Security. You may be able to enjoy a higher quality of life in retirement, too.

If your regular job isn't cutting it, consider negotiating a raise, starting a side hustle, or putting in some overtime. Diverting that extra money to retirement savings can help you reach your financial goals more quickly.

It might also help increase your retirement benefit, too. The Social Security Administration bases your benefit on how much you contribute in payroll taxes throughout your career. Pay more in and you get more out in retirement.

As long as you earn less than the taxable wage base -- $176,100 in 2025 -- every extra dollar you earn today could mean larger Social Security checks in the future.

Working part-time in retirement gives you a regular paycheck to supplement your personal savings. This can be just the help you need to delay Social Security for a few years until you qualify for larger checks.

You could consider this a phased retirement where you gradually reduce your hours over time. You might even change jobs to something a little more in line with your interests, even if it earns you less money than your previous job.