It's likely the most important Social Security chart you'll see ... Security benefits based on their partner's work history and earnings record if they've been married for at least a year.

However, the maximum Social Security payout does increase each year alongside the taxable earnings limit. The chart shows the maximum monthly retired-worker benefit at different claim ages in 2025.

This ceiling, known as the Social Security tax limit or "wage cap," sets the maximum earnings that can be taxed to fund the Social Security program. Social Security provides vital retirement ...

But actually, it’s pretty common for very high earners to pay Social Security taxes on just a portion of their income. That’s because those taxes are capped at a certain wage level each year.

Meanwhile, Social Security sets a wage cap for tax purposes every year. In 2024, workers had to pay into the program on their first $168,600 of income. In 2025, the wage cap is rising to $176,100.

I usually have a strong opinion on issues in my sphere, but have been going back and forth about one component likely to be in any package to fix Social Security: increasing the taxable wage base.

A W-2 is the form issued annually by employers to employees that includes how much the company paid the employee during the calendar year, the taxes that were withheld from paychecks and ...

Despite all the complexities surrounding Social Security, one chart reigns supreme in its ... to receive benefits based on ...

The Social Security Fairness Act could lead to higher benefits for a few million retirees. The program’s wage cap and earnings-test limits also increased. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement?