Retirement

How You Can Grow Your Social Security Benefits Beyond Retirement Age

November 30, 2017 • By

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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. Kathy W.

    Why does Medicare B cost so much. I am a pretty healthy person. Thank God. I only go to the doctor once a year. Can it be based on doctor visit or is this a standard charge. The SS check is not that much and that’s a big chunk that’s coming out
    Thanks

  2. Rosalinda W.

    Thank you, so much for reaching out to us. The info you sent out to us is read and used. Social Security benefits are very important to the senior citizens. I appreciate all that is given to me by the U.S. law.

    • Ray F.

      We appreciate your thoughts, Rosalinda. Thanks for your comment!

  3. Zoe

    I am currently receiving my deceased husband ‘s benefits. If I remarry, do I lose his benefits?

    • Ray F.

      Hi Zoe, if you remarry after you reach age 60 (age 50 if disabled), your remarriage will not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits. Remember, you must report any changes in your marital status to Social Security.
      Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!

  4. Terry B.

    I retired at 62 I, but have worked a little the last couple of years, not to much just a little and have paid into SS will the little I’ve paid in increase my benefit payments?

    • Ray F.

      Hi Terry. Generally, if you continue to work while receiving retirement benefits, your monthly benefit amount may increase.
      When you apply for retirement 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 any of the years that were 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.
      Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase monthly benefits. Thanks!

  5. Janice D.

    If you are already recieving social security because if early retirement can ypu still take advantage of this.?

    • Ray F.

      Hi Janice! If a person begins to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits the person may qualify for.
      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 may increase monthly benefits. The other way your monthly benefit amount could increase is based on the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), which is announced each year in October.

  6. Jesse G.

    Can I receive SSI as well as receiving SSD?

    • Ray F.

      Yes, if you have low income and limited resources, you may be able to receive both benefits. For more information on the difference between Social Security disability and SSI, check out http://go.usa.gov/UB5C. We hope this information helps!

  7. Jesse G.

    Why is it possible for a collection agency to get into my disability account and steal money for my student loans? I was forced to stop working due to a second surgery not allowing me to complete my education and still have to pay for it? Unfair no agency should have this power to steal my limited disability funds!

  8. Anthony S.

    If I have opers retirement as well as ss. How much of social security will I lose. I have 23 years in social security.

  9. Roger B.

    I started receiving Social Security benefits at age 62. I’m now 65. Can I receive the full amount that I would have gotten at age 65?
    Thank you

  10. Emerita o.

    Como puedo saber cuantas coras tengo?

Comments are closed.