Well, since social security is based on your 35 highest inflation adjusted years of earnings, your benefit changes with your income level. Also, since Social Security’s benefits formula changes each year, it is hard to give a specific dollar amount going forward. However, generally speaking though, you will need to earn more than Social Security’s maximum taxable earnings in at least 35 individual years to receive the maximum possible Social Security benefit (which is around $2,788 per month in 2018). Since Social Security’s maximum taxable earnings has risen from $90,000 in 2005 to $128,400 in 2018, you can see how your benefit might vary if your income falls below the threshold in any given year. Also, remember that Social Security only taxes “earned” income; so, if your passive income is what pushes you over the Social Security maximum taxable income level, you will not “max out” your benefit. Click the link above for more details!