Can you give us a breakdown by percentages of what dollar amounts SS recipients are actually getting? For example how many retirees are actually getting the smallest benefit and how much is that. Also what is the maximum dollar amount currently being received and what percentage receive that? This would seem to be a pretty important set of statistics but I cannot find them anywhere. Thank you.

Hi. No, I really can't. The reason in part is that there is no set minimum or maximum benefit rate. A person could earn the minimum 40 quarters of coverage (QC) required to be insured for retirement benefits, earn very little in total earnings while doing so, and end up with a monthly benefit of less than $100.

Conversely, a person could continue working and earning the maximum amount subject to Social Security taxes until they reach age 100 or more, and increase their monthly benefit rate each year in doing so. I imagine there are a number of people who've increased their monthly benefit rates to more than $4,000 by working well past full retirement age.

Add to that the fact that 2 people with the same theoretical earnings history could have very different monthly benefit rates simply based on when they start drawing benefits. For example, a person reaching full retirement age (FRA) in 2020 with a primary insurance amount (PIA) of $2000 could receive as little as $1500 monthly if they started drawing at age 62 or as much as $2640 per month if they wait until age 70 to start drawing.

Best, Jerry