Retirement

How You Can Grow Your Social Security Benefits Beyond Retirement Age

November 30, 2017 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

man and woman outside on laptop For more and more Americans, reaching retirement age no longer means the end of an active working life. Many people are choosing to work past the age of 65, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you’re willing and able, maintaining gainful employment later in life could go a long way toward ensuring a secure future for you and your family. Besides providing you with additional income to pay your bills, extending your employment or working for yourself could boost your lifetime Social Security benefits.

Here’s how:

Whether you’re still working or not, waiting to claim your Social Security retirement benefits could grow them significantly. Through delayed retirement credits, your monthly benefit amount increases for each year you wait between your full retirement age and 70. Full retirement age is between 65 and 67, depending on when you were born. To learn more about delayed retirement credits, please visit our Retirement Benefits page.

You get credits on your earnings record for each year of additional work income. Once you start receiving retirement benefits, we’ll automatically review your earnings record each year to determine if you’re entitled to an adjustment. When we calculate your retirement benefit amount, we use your best 35 years of earnings. We’ll increase your benefit amount if your new year of earnings is higher than one of the years we used to calculate your initial benefit amount. To see how we calculate your benefits, see our publication, Your Retirement Benefit: How It’s Figured.

An increased benefit amount for yourself could mean more support for your family, too, through Social Security spousal benefits, child benefits, and survivor benefits.

We also encourage you to set up your own online my Social Security account so you can verify your lifetime earnings record, check the status of an application for benefits, and manage them after you’re receiving them. You can create your personal my Social Security account today.

Social Security is committed to helping you prepare for a secure today and tomorrow for you, your family, and future family. You can access all of our retirement resources on our Retirement Benefits page.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Brenda R.

    My ex-husband of 30 years died one year ago. May I apply for any part of his social security benefit?

    • A.C.

      Thanks for your question, Brenda. You may be eligible for survivor benefits when you reach age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). For more information about surviving divorced spouse benefits, check out our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.

  2. john m.

    same as above

  3. john m.

    Istarted collecting s/s benefits at the age of 62.at the age of 65. I started working for home depot been there 12 yrs now. paying into s/s all these yrs.around 800.00 to 1.000 per yr. am I entitled to a reviewof my benefits.if not why am I still paying into s/s. thank you

    • R.F.

      Thank you for your question, John. Under current law, everyone working in covered employment or self-employment regardless of age or eligibility for benefits must pay Social Security taxes.
      Generally, if you continue to work while receiving retirement benefits, your monthly benefit amount could increase. Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings could their monthly benefits. We base your benefit payment on your highest 35 years of earnings and your age when you start receiving benefits. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to compute your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. If an increase is due, a new monthly benefit amount is established on your record automatically.
      Also, some people have to pay federal income taxes on their Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you have other substantial income (such as wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that must be reported on your tax return) in addition to your benefits. For further income tax questions, you will need to contact the IRS. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040.
      We hope this information helps!

  4. Gary D.

    This form would not accept my new address. Why?

  5. Winnie m.

    Planning to get pension by 62 yrs ..and still want to continue work full time ..is it possible to get my pension at this age? Had more than 40 points ..is there any restriction on getting you’re pension on corresponding % and still want to continue on full time work…thanks

  6. Winnie m.

    Planning to get pension by 62 yrs ..and still want to continue work full time ..is it possible to get my pension at this age? Thanks

  7. Stephen H.

    am going to work past 65 (Sept) – w/Medicare plan B deferred been told – do I still register (3 mo. prior?) so
    as not to be penalty?

    • R.F.

      Hello Stephen. If you are 65 or older and not ready to start your monthly cash benefits yet, you can use our online retirement application to sign up for Medicare ONLY and apply for your retirement benefits later.
      Also, if you are actively working and you are covered under an employer’s group health insurance program, you can delay enrollment into Medicare Part B until you stop working or the health coverage is dropped. However, we suggest that individuals speak to their health benefits advisor, or health plan representative to see what’s best for them, and to prevent any penalties or delayed enrollment in the future.
      To learn more about the Medicare enrollment periods visit http://www.Medicare.gov.
      We hope this information helps!

  8. Julie A.

    Am in receipt of SS retirement benefits . . . have been working part-time for 10-years since retiring and contributed in excess of $10,000 in SS taxes during that time with absolutely ‘no’ credit to my benefits to show for those deductions . . . have been told by SS office in Charlottesville, VA that I have not paid enough to qualify for credits to my annuity payments, but not told of an amount to justify any additional benefits. Sounds like robbery!!!!

  9. Sabine B.

    I am trying to determine how the 8% increase for every deferred year relates to the cap in SSA benefit I hear about. The benefit stated in my account has not changed since Sept. 2017, even though I have 18 months of deferment and 2017 earnings on record. Is the 8% deferment per year negated by this cap I am hearing about? Getting an answer out of clerks has proven to be inaccurate and unreliable.

  10. Larry A.

    I reside overseas and would love me to open my social security account but I think the system requires a stateside address. Is there a way to allow people in my position to creat an account? Thanks!

    • R.F.

      We are sorry for the inconvenience, Larry. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet.
      We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their nearest Federal Benefits Unit for assistance with Social Security benefits and available services in their area. For a complete list of Federal Benefits Units and contact information, visit: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign. Thanks!

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