How You Can Grow Your Social Security Benefits Beyond Retirement Age
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
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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Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, retirement, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits, SSA, survivors benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Sandra M.
Feeling a little sad and overwhelmed at approaching all of this, hopefully it won’t be so bad!
Renae J.
I just turned 65 but have been getting SSI since 62. I have been offered a full time job. Can I now stop my Soc Security and start it later without any penalties?
James J.
I am not currently drawing my social security benefit. I turn age 70 on September 15, 2019.
In order to maximize my benefit, do I request to start drawing my benefit in September or the month before, in August?
Thanks.
GErald P.
I’ve been using your site for 2 days not trying to get my suspended benefits as I turn 70 in June. After spending hours trying to start my benefits I still have not accomplished it. I have a graduate education and am familiar with computers and the internet but I cannot figure out your site. I left messages online to call me and a day later no one had called. Time to call my US Senator in desperation!
A.C.
Hi, Gerald. We are sorry to hear of your frustration. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. In your situation, it may be best to contact your local field office. We hope this is resolved soon.
Wanita B.
Where can I pay the deduction for my retirement plan?
My work doesn’t do W2 but 1099. Please advice.
Thank you
Nancy
Is there a dollar cap on two family members receiving social security?
Donald g.
My wife is receiving social security disability benefits,
She will turn 62 in May 2019,
Can she receive half of what I get
I am 66 and just started receiving benefits last year.
Linda
If i and my husband had a business prior to a divorce and I turning 65 should this be included in part of my benefits? I am a prior SSD recipient. All business was unknowledgeable and withheld from me plus many other factors.
THOMAS K.
SPENT ONE HOUR AND COULD NOT FIND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF SOCIAL SECURITY AT AGE 66.
SEND ANSWER AND WERE TO FIND IT ON THIS CONFUSING SYSTEM .
WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH I CAN RECEIVE BY MONTH UNTIL AGE 70
TKOSALKA@ATT.NET
A.C.
Hi, Thomas. We have an online calculator where you can test various scenarios and retirement ages to estimate your benefits. You can also create a personal my Social Security account to review estimates of your retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, your earnings record, and the estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps!
Jen
To collect off a spouse’s social security why are assets asked for.