Want to maximize your Social Security retirement benefits? Do these things now.

Taking steps to maximize your Social Security benefits now could pay off during retirement. Mariusz Blach/Getty Images

For most Americans, Social Security isn't just a government program. It's a vital financial lifeline that they rely on heavily during retirement.

Nearly 68 million people receive Social Security benefits each month, and for retirees, those checks often represent a large share of their income. Of the beneficiaries age 65 and older, about 39% of men and 44% of women receive half or more of their income from Social Security, according to the latest data from the Social Security Administration (SSA). And, another 12% of men and 15% of women rely on these benefits to provide 90% or more of their income.

For these beneficiaries, maximizing the amount they can collect