Do Social Security benefits increase if I work past FRA until 70? Confused about high-earning years calculation!
I've been planning to work until I'm 70 before claiming Social Security retirement benefits. My financial advisor mentioned something that has me questioning my strategy. If I continue working past my full retirement age (which is 67 for me), will those higher-earning years from 67-70 actually replace lower-earning years in my Social Security calculation? Or does the SSA only count earnings up to my FRA when determining my 35 highest years? I've been earning significantly more in the last decade than I did in my 20s and 30s, so it would make a big difference if these final working years could boost my monthly benefit. I can't seem to find a clear answer on the SSA website!
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Oliver Schmidt
YES, they absolutely continue counting! I worked until 72 (retired last year) and my benefit calculation definitely included my last years of work. SSA looks at your 35 highest-earning years regardless of WHEN they occurred - before or after FRA doesn't matter. My benefit ended up being about $400/month higher than what my statement estimated when I was 62 because I replaced some early low-earning years with my final higher-earning years. Working past FRA is actually a double win - delayed retirement credits PLUS potentially replacing lower-earning years in your calculation!
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Amina Diop
•Thank you so much! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. Did you notice that SSA automatically recalculated your benefit amount, or did you have to specifically request that they include those post-FRA earnings in your calculation?
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Natasha Volkov
my neighbor said they stopped counting at FRA but that didnt sound right to me
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Javier Torres
•Your neighbor is confusing two different things. The earnings test (where they reduce benefits if you earn too much) stops at FRA. But the calculation of your 35 highest years continues forever as long as you're working and paying FICA taxes. Many people get this mixed up.
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Emma Wilson
Here's the most accurate explanation: Social Security calculates your benefit based on your 35 highest-earning years THROUGHOUT your lifetime, adjusted for inflation. This is called your AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings). There is NO cutoff at FRA for which earnings years count. If you work past FRA and those earnings are higher than your previous indexed earnings from earlier years, SSA will recalculate your benefit and increase it accordingly. This recalculation happens automatically, usually in the year after you earn the income (once your W-2 or tax return is processed). However, be aware that the impact of replacing a low year might be smaller than you expect because of indexing. Early career earnings are indexed to account for wage growth over time, while recent earnings aren't indexed much or at all. Still, in your situation where you're earning significantly more now than early in your career, working until 70 will likely improve your benefit amount both through delayed retirement credits AND by improving your AIME calculation.
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Amina Diop
•This is incredibly helpful! I didn't know about the indexing factor. I'll need to run some calculations to see how much difference those last few years might make. My first 5-6 working years were part-time minimum wage jobs during college and right after, so even with indexing, my current income should replace those effectively.
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QuantumLeap
I went through this EXACT situation. Worked until 70, retired in 2024. When I initially applied for benefits, SSA only calculated based on earnings through the previous year. HOWEVER, after my final year's earnings were reported on my tax return, they automatically recalculated and sent me a notice about my increase. They also paid me the difference retroactively! One thing to know - the recalculation doesn't happen immediately. It took about 8 months after I filed my final tax return before they processed the adjustment. Some people get impatient and give up thinking it won't happen, but it does!
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Amina Diop
•This is really good to know! So I shouldn't panic if I don't see the recalculation right away. I'm planning to file in mid-2026 after I turn 70, so I'll make a note to expect a potential adjustment in early 2027 after my 2026 earnings are reported.
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Malik Johnson
Warning!! Be careful believing all these responses. The SSA website has alot of CONFUSING information. Earnings only count before you reach retirement age not after!!! This happened to my brother and he got a nasty suprise when his benefit was way less then he thought it would be!!!
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Emma Wilson
•That's incorrect information. Your brother's situation was likely related to something else, like the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) if he had a pension from non-covered employment, or perhaps he was looking at an old estimate that didn't account for a change in his earnings pattern. The SSA absolutely counts earnings after FRA in the 35-year calculation - this is clearly stated in their documentation and benefit calculation formulas.
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Isabella Santos
Has anyone else been trying to check their earnings record on the SSA website? I've been trying to log in for DAYS and keep getting errors!!! How am I supposed to even verify my earnings are correct? This is so frustrating.
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Javier Torres
•I had the same problem last month! Their website has been really glitchy with all the updates they've been making. Try using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent by phone - I used it and got connected to someone at SSA in about 10 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They helped me verify my earnings over the phone. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - worth every penny since I needed to make sure my record was correct before filing.
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Natasha Volkov
im confused about something else - if you work till 70 but start taking SS at 67 (FRA) do they still count those years from 67-70 in the calculation?
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Oliver Schmidt
•Yes, they absolutely do! Even if you're already receiving benefits, SSA reviews your earnings record every year. If your new earnings replace a lower year in your top 35, they automatically adjust your benefit amount. I started benefits at my FRA but continued working part-time, and my benefit has been adjusted upward twice because of it.
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Amina Diop
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. SSA looks at my 35 highest-earning years regardless of when they occurred 2. Working past FRA can replace lower-earning years in the calculation 3. Recalculations happen automatically, but may take some time 4. Indexing affects how early years are valued compared to recent years This confirms my strategy of working until 70 makes sense both for the delayed retirement credits AND for improving my overall calculation. Just what I needed to know!
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Emma Wilson
•That's a perfect summary! You've got it exactly right. Working until 70 is giving you both benefits - the 8% per year increase for delayed claiming PLUS potentially improving your overall AIME calculation by replacing lower-earning years. It's the optimal strategy for someone with your earnings history.
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