Social Security doesn't pay all beneficiaries the same amount. The sum they're entitled to hinges on factors like lifetime earnings and their filing age.

This year, the maximum monthly Social Security benefit is a rather impressive $4,555. That's over $54,000 a year in Social Security alone. And so you might want to do what you can to score a monthly payment that high.

Here's the problem, though: Most seniors do not come close to snagging the maximum Social Security benefit. And even if you're motivated to try, that number might be a fantasy based on the wages your career allows for.

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Source Fool.com