Will SS include 2025 income in my benefit calculation with December birthday turning 70?

Yes, SSA will include your 2025 earnings in your initial benefit calculation when you file in January 2026, even though your tax return for 2025 won't be completed yet. This is because employers report your wages to SSA quarterly, so they'll have records of your 2025 earnings through electronic wage reporting. They don't wait for your tax return to be filed. The benefit amount will be recalculated automatically once your complete 2025 earnings are verified (after you file taxes), and any adjustment will be made retroactive to your first payment. This ensures you get credit for those final 2025 earnings that might replace a lower year in your top 35.

Be careful about this! My father turned 70 in November last year and SSA did NOT include his final year earnings in his initial calculation. They used outdated income and his first 3 months of payments were $78 lower than they should have been. It took FOUR CALLS to get them to fix it, and even then they only adjusted it after he submitted his W-2. The retroactive payment came 5 months later. The whole system is broken. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and expect to have to fight them on this!!!

Actually, i'm going through this exact situation right now. Born Dec 1955, claimed in Jan 2026. The SSA representative told me they CAN use 2025 earnings even before your tax return is filed, but HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART - you need to bring recent pay stubs or a statement from your employer documenting your 2025 earnings when you apply. Don't assume they'll have the most current info from quarterly reporting. I brought my last paystub showing YTD earnings and they were able to input that info on the spot. Made a difference of $124/month in my case since it knocked out a zero-earning year from the 1980s.

Been trying to reach SS for 2 weeks about a similar issue with my PIA calculation (Primary Insurance Amount). Was on hold for over 2 hours yesterday and got disconnected TWICE! So frustrating! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent confirmed they CAN use 2025 earnings for someone turning 70 in December 2025. They said the key is to provide proof of those earnings when you apply in January 2026.

I work for a benefits counseling service, and this is a common question. Here's the technical answer: When you file in January 2026, SSA will calculate your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) using their most current earnings data. For 2025, they'll use whatever has been reported by your employer through their electronic wage reporting system. After your 2025 taxes are processed (usually by late summer 2026), SSA automatically recomputes your benefit to include the fully verified 2025 earnings. If this results in a higher benefit, you'll receive a retroactive adjustment back to your filing date. In your case, since you're turning 70 in December 2025, filing in January 2026 is optimal timing. You'll receive your maximum DRCs (Delayed Retirement Credits) and your 2025 earnings will eventually be included in your benefit calculation.

why not just delay filing until after you do your 2025 taxes in april? then there's no confusion and SS will have all your earning info upfront.

SSA counts ur earnings up to the year before u file benefits i think. my uncle just went thru this whole mess and SSA told him something different every time he called lol

Thank you all for the helpful responses! Based on what everyone has shared, my plan is to: 1. Apply in January 2026 as originally planned 2. Bring my final 2025 paystubs to the SSA appointment as proof of my earnings 3. File my 2025 taxes as early as possible in 2026 4. Keep documentation of everything in case I need to follow up It sounds like the system should work automatically to include my 2025 earnings, but it's good to be prepared with documentation just in case. I appreciate all the advice!

One thing I'd add - when you bring your final 2025 paystubs to the SSA appointment, also ask the representative to note in your file that you've provided this documentation. I've seen cases where the initial rep records the earnings info but it gets lost in the system during handoffs. Having a note in your file about providing 2025 earnings documentation can save you headaches later if you need to call back. Also, consider getting a receipt or confirmation number for your application - it makes following up much easier if there are any issues with the automatic recomputation process.

As someone who just went through this process last year (turned 70 in November 2024, filed in December), I can confirm that SSA absolutely can and should include your 2025 earnings in your benefit calculation. However, there's one additional detail worth mentioning that I learned the hard way - if you have any self-employment income in 2025, make sure to bring quarterly tax payment records or estimated tax forms (1040ES) in addition to your regular paystubs. My benefit calculation was initially lower because they missed some 1099 income from consulting work I did in my final year. It took an extra month to get that sorted out even though I had provided W-2 paystub documentation. The system handles W-2 wages seamlessly through employer reporting, but self-employment income can slip through the cracks more easily. Just something to keep in mind if you have any freelance or consulting income mixed in with your regular wages for 2025.

Just wanted to add another perspective based on my recent experience. I turned 70 in September 2024 and filed in October. SSA did include my partial 2024 earnings in my initial calculation, but here's what I wish I had known: they used an estimate based on my year-to-date earnings at the time of filing, not my actual final total for the year. Since I had a big bonus coming in December 2024, my actual annual earnings ended up being about $8,000 higher than what they initially estimated. The automatic recomputation happened in August 2025 (about 5 months after I filed my taxes), and I received a nice retroactive payment for the difference. So for your situation, Oliver, even if your 2025 income varies significantly month-to-month or you expect year-end bonuses, don't worry too much about the exact timing. The system is designed to catch up with your actual earnings eventually. Just make sure to keep good records of everything as others have suggested.

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 70 in December 2025 and planning to file in January 2026. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One question I have for those who've been through this process: when you brought your paystubs to the SSA appointment, did you need to bring all of them from 2025, or just the final one showing year-to-date totals? I'm trying to figure out how much documentation to gather. Also, for anyone who had to follow up on missing earnings - how long did it typically take SSA to process the corrections once you provided the additional documentation?

As a new member here, I wanted to share what I learned from my recent experience that might help Oliver and others in similar situations. I turned 70 in October 2024 and filed for benefits in November. One thing I discovered that hasn't been mentioned yet is that if you have any pension income or other retirement distributions starting in 2025, make sure to clarify with SSA whether those affect your earnings record calculation. I had a small pension that started paying out in my final working year, and there was initial confusion about whether that counted as "earned income" for benefit calculation purposes. The SSA rep eventually clarified that only wages and self-employment income count toward your earnings record - pension distributions don't affect your Social Security benefit calculation. But it's worth asking about upfront if you have multiple income sources in your final year to avoid any confusion during the process. Also, I'd recommend scheduling your SSA appointment for mid-to-late January rather than early January if possible. This gives your employer a bit more time to submit their final quarterly wage reports for 2025, which could help ensure SSA has your complete earnings data when you apply.

As someone new to this community, I've been following this discussion closely since I'm in a very similar situation to Oliver. I'm turning 70 in November 2025 and have been worried about the same earnings calculation questions. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring, especially the detailed explanation from Ravi about the automatic recomputation process. I had no idea that SSA would eventually adjust benefits retroactively once the full tax information is processed - I was considering delaying my application until after tax season, but now I understand that would just cost me months of benefits unnecessarily. The tip about bringing documentation to the initial appointment seems crucial. I'm planning to compile not just my final 2025 paystub, but also any quarterly estimated tax payments since I do some freelance work on the side. Based on Ethan's experience, it sounds like self-employment income requires extra attention. One question I have - has anyone dealt with stock options or RSUs (restricted stock units) that vest in their final working year? I have some company stock that vests in late 2025, and I'm wondering if that gets treated like regular W-2 income or if there are special considerations for the SSA earnings calculation. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to navigate the SSA website!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly detailed discussion! I'm turning 70 in January 2026 and was completely confused about how SSA handles earnings from the year you apply for benefits. Reading through all these real-world experiences has been so much more helpful than the official SSA publications I've been trying to decipher. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) Apply in the month after you turn 70 (don't delay), 2) Bring your final paystub showing YTD earnings to the appointment, 3) Ask the rep to document in your file that you provided 2025 earnings proof, and 4) File your taxes promptly to trigger the automatic recomputation if needed. One follow-up question - for those who received retroactive adjustments after the recomputation, did SSA notify you in advance that the adjustment was coming, or did the extra payment just show up in your account? I like to keep close track of my finances and would want to know what to expect timing-wise. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be bookmarked for anyone approaching 70!

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience that directly relates to Oliver's question. I just went through this exact situation - turned 70 in December 2024 and filed for benefits in January 2025. SSA did include my 2024 earnings in the initial calculation, but here's what I learned that might be helpful: they estimated my full-year 2024 earnings based on what was reported through Q3 2024, since Q4 reporting wasn't complete yet when I applied in January. This worked out fine since my income was fairly steady throughout the year. The process was smoother than I expected after reading some of the horror stories online. I brought my final 2024 paystub showing year-to-date totals, and the representative was able to input that information during my appointment. She also noted in my file that I had provided 2024 earnings documentation, which I think helped avoid any confusion later. My advice echoes what others have said: don't delay your application. File in January 2026 as planned, bring your documentation, and trust that the automatic recomputation will catch any discrepancies once your 2025 taxes are processed. The few months of maximum benefits you'd lose by waiting until after tax season aren't worth the risk, especially since the system is designed to handle this exact scenario. Good luck with your application! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions as you go through the process.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my perspective after reading through this incredibly helpful discussion. I'm in a similar situation to Oliver - turning 70 in late 2025 and have been anxious about the earnings calculation timing. What strikes me most from everyone's experiences is how variable the process can be depending on which SSA representative you get and how well-prepared you are with documentation. The success stories all seem to have one thing in common: people who brought comprehensive documentation to their initial appointment and asked for it to be noted in their file. I'm planning to create a small folder with: my final 2025 paystub, any quarterly estimated tax payment records (since I do some consulting), a summary sheet showing my expected 2025 total earnings, and even a simple letter explaining that I'm providing this documentation to ensure my 2025 earnings are included in my benefit calculation. Maybe it's overkill, but after reading about some of the challenges people faced, I'd rather be over-prepared than deal with months of follow-up calls. The consensus here seems clear: file in January 2026 as planned, don't delay for tax season, and trust the automatic recomputation process while being proactive about documentation. This thread has been more valuable than any official SSA resource I've found - thank you all for sharing your real experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share some additional insights that might be helpful for Oliver and others in similar situations. I work as a retirement planning consultant and have helped many clients navigate this exact scenario over the years. One thing I always recommend is to also request a copy of your complete earnings record (Form SSA-7050) during your appointment, not just the summary you can see online. This detailed record shows exactly which years are being counted in your top 35 calculation and can help you verify that your 2025 earnings are properly included when the recomputation happens. Also, if you're married, consider the timing impact on spousal benefits. Since you're filing at 70, your spouse's potential survivor benefit will be based on your maximum benefit amount, so ensuring that 2025 earnings are included could have long-term implications beyond just your own monthly payment. Finally, I'd suggest setting up a my Social Security account online if you haven't already. This will allow you to monitor any changes to your benefit amount and catch the automatic recomputation when it happens, rather than waiting to notice it in your bank account. The advice everyone has shared here is spot-on - file in January 2026, bring documentation, and trust the process while staying vigilant about follow-up.