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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: retirement, retirement benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Robert F.
My name is Robert Cronenberg and I would like to review my social security payment. I started collecting at 66 and am now 71 and I am still working. The last 5 years have been my best income years. Please review my information and let me know
Rebecc H.
Can you make as much money as you want after age 65, while collecting Social Security?
Stephen V.
This email was very informative!
Kathy B.
I am currently 64 years old, my husband is 67 and retired. I’m also getting disability. Next year when I turn 65 can I apply to get part of his SS?
Mary R.
My husband passed in 01/04/2008 I retired in 2015 I think and was getting his ssi. Would I get an increase now that I worked past RETIERe meant age ?
Phyllis
This article is very informative and well written. Thank you for sharing.
Jeanette A.
when I was a widow, several years ago, I was told that if I remarried and after 10 years had passed, that my new spouse would be able to draw the same SS amount that I now have coming to me even though it was from my late husbands SS number. Could you let me know if this is correct. Thank you
Karen P.
Can I receive added social security benefits from my husbands social security?
joan m.
I received an inheritance and my social security was reduced. I am asking why????
George B.
I am 84 years old and the amount I receive from SS is not enough to live, is there a way to increase my monthly SS. TY, george Beblis