Just looked into how the max ss benefit actually works and honestly it's kind of wild. So back in 2024, if you waited until 70 to claim, you could get $4,873 a month. But here's the thing—most people don't get anywhere near that. The average was only like $1,907 monthly, which is basically nothing when you think about it. And the kicker? You basically have to be a high earner your whole life to hit that max. Like you needed to make at least $168,600 a year for 35 years straight. That's why the system kind of rewards people who already had money, which seems backwards. I'm realizing now that just working 35 years isn't enough—you gotta actually earn big to max out. Makes me think a lot of people are gonna be surprised when they find out what they're actually getting. Anyone else digging into this stuff for retirement planning?