Social Security benefit amount lower than expected - when will 2024 earnings be calculated?

Yes, the SSA will automatically recalculate your benefit once your 2024 earnings are processed. This typically happens around September-October 2025 after employers submit all W-2s and self-employment tax returns are processed. You'll receive any increase retroactively to your first month of entitlement. The adjustment happens without you needing to do anything as long as your earnings were from W-2 employment (if self-employed, make sure your tax return gets filed on time).

The same thing happened to my husband! He worked through 2024 and started benefits in January 2025. His payment was like $200 less than expected and we were worried. But sure enough, in October they sent him a letter saying his benefit increased AND they gave him back pay for the months he'd been getting the lower amount. Be patient!

Your situation is actually very common. SSA calculates your benefit based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. When your 2024 earnings are processed (usually by late summer/early fall 2025), SSA will automatically recompute your benefit if those earnings increase your monthly amount. Two technical points: 1. The recomputation is called an Automatic Earnings Reappraisal Operation (AERO) 2. If your 2024 earnings replace a lower year in your top 35, you'll see an increase You'll receive retroactive payments back to your entitlement date (May 2025). No need to contact them unless it hasn't happened by December 2025.

I went through this EXACT thing! Was missing almost $250/month because my last year of work wasn't counted. SSA is ALWAYS behind on processing recent earnings. Waited 7 months with the lower amount until suddenly got a deposit for $1,700+ (the back pay) and a letter explaining my new higher monthly amount. BUT trying to call SSA is IMPOSSIBLE these days!! I tried for WEEKS and either got disconnected or waited 2+ hours. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me a callback from SSA within 2 hours instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Totally worth it for peace of mind to confirm everything was processing correctly with my benefits.

dont worry to much about it. they add the earnings when they get around to it. my sister had same issue and money showed up higher after bout 8 months. SSA is always slow with everything lol

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better knowing this is normal and will eventually be corrected. I'll watch for the adjustment in the fall and follow up if nothing changes by December.

My neighbor said to check that your employer actually reported your 2024 wages correctly! His company messed up and it took forever to fix!!! Maybe call your old HR department just to make SURE everything was submitted right??

The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to pay you LESS than you deserve!!! I've been fighting with them for 2 YEARS about my benefit calculation and they keep giving me the runaround. They're HOPING you won't notice or follow up so they can keep underpaying you. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and keep calling until they fix it!!!