Three Common Ways Your Social Security Payment Can Grow After Retirement
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: June 21, 2018
You made the choice and now you are happily retired. You filed online for your Social Security benefits. They arrive each month in the correct amount exactly as expected. But, did you ever wonder if your Social Security check could increase?
Once you begin receiving benefits, there are three common ways benefit checks can increase: a cost of living adjustment (COLA); additional work; or an adjustment at full retirement age if you received reduced benefits and exceeded the earnings limit.
The COLA is the most commonly known increase for Social Security payments. We annually announce a COLA, and there’s usually an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month. By law, federal benefit rates increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). More than 66 million Americans saw a 2.0 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2018. For more information on the 2018 COLA, visit our website.
Social Security uses your highest thirty-five years of earnings to figure your benefit amount when you sign up for benefits. If you work after you begin receiving benefits, your additional earnings may increase your payment. If you had fewer than 35 years of earnings when we figured your benefit, you will replace a zero earnings year with new earnings. If you had 35 years or more, we will check to see if your new year of earnings is higher than the lowest of the 35 years (after considering indexing). We check additional earnings each year you work while receiving Social Security. If an increase is due, we send a notice and pay a one-time check for the increase and your continuing payment will be higher.
Maybe you chose to receive reduced Social Security retirement benefits while continuing to work. You made the choice to take benefits early, but at a reduced rate. If you exceeded the allowable earnings limit and had some of your benefits withheld, we will adjust your benefit once you reach full retirement age. We will refigure your payment to credit you for any months you did not receive payments. Your monthly benefit will increase based on the crediting months you receive. You can find additional information about working and your benefit by reading What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits.
Retirement just got more interesting since you learned about potential increases to monthly payments. Social Security has been securing your today and tomorrow for more than 80 years with information and tools to help you achieve a successful retirement.
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Judith A.
I heard you could collect against your ex spouse if married more than 10 years. I was married 34 years. At age 62 I was unemployed so was going to collect on his until I reached full retirement age so I could get my full benefit at 66. I was told that I could not do that and would have to collect on my record. So I ended up filling for my benefit with the lower retirement rate. Doesn’t seem quite fair. Al ways wondered if that was correct and maybe should have questioned it. Also now I have continued working part-time for the last 6 years to make up for it.
Vonda V.
Thanks for the question, Judith. Your benefit as a divorced spouse can be equal to one-half of your ex-husband’s full retirement amount and it’s half if you start receiving those benefits at your full retirement age. If you begin to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to your full retirement age, your benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits you qualify for once you opt to start benefits at age 62 or at any time prior to your full retirement age.
Remember, if you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as an ex-spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as an ex-spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.
See our Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced for more information.
If your former spouse is deceased and you need information about possible survivors benefits, please read, “If You’re The Worker’s Surviving Divorced Spouse.”
Elsworth A.
I started to receive social security retirement benefit before my full retirement but decided to continue working. I am currently working at age 70. The question is for that period of earnings that I have accumulated after I received social security retirememt benefit, will there be an adjustment whenever I am fully retired?
Vonda V.
Thank you for the question. When you reach full retirement age, we will recalculate your benefit amount to leave out the months when we reduced or withheld benefits due to your excess earnings. In addition, each year we review your work record. 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. We pay the increase retroactive to January the year after you earned the month.
Michele E.
I collect my dead husband’s benefit. But if I got a part time job. I would be working under my own social security number. Therefore, is it true that no amount of FICA contribution I make would increase his survivors benefit that I currently collect
Awaiting your response
Thank you.
Vonda V.
Hi Michele, thank you for your question. If you’re receiving a reduced widow’s benefit, the benefit reduction could be adjusted at your full retirement age due to work. Also, keep in mind that if you are also eligible for retirement benefits (but haven’t applied yet), you have an option on switching to your retirement benefit at a later date (if it’s higher than your widow’s benefit). See our Survivors Planner: If You Are The Survivor for more information.
To see if you qualify for a higher benefit than what you are currently receiving, use our online retirement estimator or call our toll free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you.
Kathryn M.
I have received reduced social security payments starting at age 63, since I also work the money the was not received and the 3 months that were held will that money come back to me as a one-time check or divided into monthly payments I will turn 66 full retirement age this February, also I was sent a letter saying I had received too much money and ended up owing social security 1200.00 dollars which they took from my check I am totally not understanding what is going on please help me to understand this.
Thanks
Paul F.
Thanks for the update. As I am still working for the time being, I wondered how that would work. Thanks for the update.
Donna F.
Do I receive ss benefits from my late husband when I’m 65? He died in 2007. I’m now 65.
Ray F.
Thank you for your question, Donna. If you are the widow of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can start receiving (reduced) survivor’s benefits at age 60 (age 50 if disabled).
You cannot apply for survivors’ benefits online. If you need to apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also visit your local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to speak to someone.
Sara M.
I have been receiving social security benefits for 4years….on October 4th 2018 I turned 66yrs old…am I old enough for full retirement benefits now..if so, how do I go about getting it??Also….since I am 66yrs old now….am I aloud to work as much as I want without getting penalized?? I know there is a limit prior to this.
Thank you much–
Sara M. Baumgartner
519 Glen Ave.
Ellwood City,Pa. 16117
Email..hotstep52@yahoo.com
Ray F.
Hello Sara. If a person begins to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. These reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits the person may qualify for. In the other hand, if you work and are full retirement age or older, the amount you make at work will not affect your Social Security benefits, no matter how much you earn. Please read our publication “How Work Affects Your Benefits” for more information. Thanks!
jan l.
Hi I didn’t get a deposit on my new green Direct Deposit card from Social Security. So I called the number listed for S.S. and was on the line for almost 4 hours, then a dummy robot comes on and starts asking me questions about the service I received and then hung up on me. My check was waiting for me at home (thank you for that) but I had been told I wasn’t in compliance with the law and hurriedly made arrangements for my third check to be on the card. Why wasn’t it and why wouldn’t someone come on the line before asking me survey questions????
Ray F.
We apologize for any inconvenience, Jan. If you’re referring to a Direct Express® account, you may call them at 1-800-333-1795 (TTY: 1-866-569-0447). Thanks!
Frances M.
This email is very, very unhelpful,is vague, nonspecific, and useless. It appears I will once again be forced to go sit in my social security office, wait for several hours to speak to an employee who might be able to answer my questions.
My advice: fire the person (s) who wrote this email. Hire a good writer who can cut this email in half and get to the point.
Otherwise set up a chat line.
Ray F.
Just a reminder – We do not have access to personal information, therefore, we do not do direct messaging in this venue. Please be aware that our official agency responses will always include the Social Security Administration (SSA) seal, and that we have an official social media team dedicated to posting messages and responses to customer inquiries or comments that specifically address SSA issues.
We respond to questions and provide general information on our Retirement, Survivors, Disability, Medicare and SSI programs. If you have a general question, we encourage you to ask here. But remember, never post personal information on social media channels.
Our goal is to give readers information about a variety of topics, including our programs, online services, current events, and human-interest stories, usually in greater detail than typically shared on our other social media platforms. We always attempt to respond to as many of the comments and questions as we possibly can. If we missed your question, consider re-submitting it again. Thanks!
Anthony P.
I started collecting SS at age 70. I continue to have earned income. Some of the earnings from my ’35 years’ were below the maximum. How and where can I find out how much my SS check will be adjusted upwards??
Ray F.
Hello Anthony. Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase their monthly benefits.
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 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. See “Getting Benefits While Working” for more information.
If you need further assistance or to request a review of your records, call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!