Let's assume that you worked for at least 35 years in jobs that are eligible for Social Security and you wait until age 70 to claim benefits. What salary do you need to make to receive the maximum benefit payment? The magic number is $176,100 -- for now.

If you can keep working while looking after your health, do it. You get 100% of your Social Security benefit at full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or after, and you receive a lesser amount if you claim at any time from the age of 62 until full retirement age. If you wait until age 70, you receive roughly 8% more per year .