The SSA confirms it: this is how retirees with lower incomes can increase their monthly benefits

Thousands of Americans living on modest Social Security payments can unlock a larger monthly benefit by taking three often‑overlooked steps, according to fresh guidance from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Retirees with earnings histories below the national average may feel locked into a “fixed‑income” life. However, the SSA has highlighted little‑known options—ranging from tapping a spouse’s record to correcting missing wages—that can lift a payment well above today’s $1,915 average check.

How claiming benefits on your spouse’s earnings record can boost monthly income

Married or divorced for at least 10 years? You may claim up to 50 percent of your spouse’s or ex‑spouse’s full retirement benefit once they file, even if your own work history is thin. That switch alone can add hundreds of dollars per month for long‑time caregivers and part‑time workers. Who knew a marriage certificate could double as a pay raise?

The SSA bases every dollar you receive on the 35 highest‑earning years it sees in its database. Yet payroll errors, name changes, or gig‑economy jobs can leave gaps. Log in to mySocialSecurity.gov, pull your annual statement, and compare each year’s taxable wages with your W‑2s. File Form SSA‑7008 if you spot a shortfall—sooner is better, because proof can vanish with time.

Even crediting a single extra year of $25,000 earnings can raise a lifelong benefit by roughly $34 a month—money that stacks up quickly over a 20‑year retirement.

Working part‑time after retirement may still raise your future Social Security payments

Yes, you already collect your check, but Social Security keeps recalculating if a new year’s earnings outrank one of the 35 counted years. A flexible side gig—think consulting, tutoring, or ride‑hailing—could bump out a $0 year and permanently lift your payment. Just watch the annual earnings limit ($25,520 for 2025 if younger than full retirement age); exceed it and part of your check is temporarily withheld.

*Estimates for illustration; exact amounts depend on age and lifetime earnings.

So, what’s the takeaway? Review, claim, and correct. By exploring a spouse’s record, scrubbing your own earnings, and staying engaged in the workforce—even a little—you could cushion your budget against rising prices.