Will SSA include my 2024 income when calculating retirement benefits if it's not showing on my record yet?

Yes, the SSA will include your 2024 earnings in your benefit calculation even if they're not showing on your record yet when you file. When you complete your application, there's a section where you can report your most recent earnings that haven't been recorded yet. Make sure you have documentation ready (W-2, paystubs, etc.) to verify those earnings if requested. The SSA will initially calculate your benefit based on what's in their system, but once your 2024 earnings are processed and verified, they'll automatically recalculate and adjust your benefit amount if it results in an increase. This adjustment is typically retroactive to your entitlement date.

DON'T TRUST THIS PROCESS!!! I filed last year and they COMPLETELY MISSED including my final year's income even though it was almost $30k higher than previous years. Took me FOUR MONTHS of calling and getting nowhere before they fixed it. And guess what? No retroactive adjustment like they PROMISED would happen "automatically." Had to fight for that too. The system is BROKEN!!!

Something to consider: if your 2024 earnings are significantly higher than those lower-earning years, it might actually make a difference in your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) calculation. SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate your benefit, so that 2024 amount would replace one of your lower-earning years. If you're already at your FRA (Full Retirement Age) or very close to it, waiting a few extra months for that 2024 income to be fully processed might be worth it to avoid any potential issues with the recalculation process. That said, if you need the income now, filing and then following up about the recalculation is also a valid approach.

i had this exact prob last yr when i filed. just make sure u bring ur w2 or paystubs to the meeting if ur doing it in person. they looked at mine right there. if ur filing online theres a part where u can enter ur recent income thats not showing up yet. easy peasy

My husband went through this same thing last year! His 2023 earnings weren't showing up either when he applied. He just put the amount in the application and honestly we forgot all about it. Then about 5 months later he got a letter saying his benefit amount was being adjusted upward by like $47/month and it was retroactive to his start date. So I guess it does work eventually.

You've received some good advice already, but I want to add one important detail: make sure you follow up if you don't see the recalculation happen within 6-9 months after filing. While the SSA should automatically recalculate once your 2024 earnings are processed (typically after your employer files W-2s and they're processed), sometimes these adjustments don't trigger properly. To ensure nothing falls through the cracks, I recommend calling or visiting your local office around February or March of 2025 if you haven't received any notice about a benefit adjustment by then. The early months of the year are when most W-2 data is fully integrated into their system. You mentioned your higher 2024 earnings would replace lower earnings from 2018-2020, which could definitely impact your benefit calculation since SSA uses your highest 35 years of indexed earnings.

Just went thru this with my retirement filing! I worked all of 2023 but it wasnt on my record when I filed in January 2024. Was so frustrating trying to reach someone at Social Security to make sure it would be included. Spent 3 days calling and never got through!!! So sick of the waiting game with SSA.

To address your follow-up question about whether the recalculation is truly automatic: yes, it is supposed to happen automatically through their system, but as others have mentioned, it's always good practice to follow up. One tip I'd suggest: when you file your application, make a note in your calendar for about 6 months later to check on the status of this recalculation. By that time, your 2024 earnings should be processed in their system (especially if you file your taxes promptly in early 2025). Also, keep documentation of your 2024 earnings handy - not just your final W-2, but also your last paystubs of the year. If you need to follow up with SSA, having this documentation readily available will make the process much smoother.