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.

I went through this exact situation two years ago! The SSA did include my most recent year's earnings in the calculation, but I learned a few things that might help you: 1. When you file, there's a section asking about earnings not yet posted to your record - fill this out accurately with your 2024 income. 2. The automatic recalculation did happen for me, but it took about 8 months. I got a letter in the mail with the adjusted benefit amount and retroactive payment. 3. Given that your 2024 earnings ($87,000) are so much higher than your reduced-income years, this could make a meaningful difference in your monthly benefit - possibly $50-100+ more per month. Since you're not hitting FRA until August, you have some flexibility. If you need the income now, go ahead and file - just be prepared to follow up if you don't see the adjustment by early 2026. But if you can afford to wait until later this year, it might save you the hassle of monitoring the recalculation process. Either way, keep detailed records of your 2024 earnings and set a calendar reminder to check on the adjustment status!

I'm in a very similar situation right now! My 2024 earnings are about $82,000 but they're not showing up on my SSA record yet either. I've been going back and forth on whether to file now or wait. From reading all these responses, it sounds like the key is being proactive about following up. I'm planning to file next month and I'm going to create a spreadsheet to track the whole process - when I file, what 2024 earnings I report, when to expect the recalculation, etc. One question for those who've been through this: when you reported your 2024 earnings in the application, did you use your gross income from your final paystub or did you wait for your W-2? I'm wondering how precise that number needs to be since my W-2 might be slightly different due to pre-tax deductions I'm not accounting for properly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what to expect!

I just want to echo what others have said about being proactive with follow-up. I went through this process last year and the automatic recalculation did work, but it took almost 10 months to see the adjustment. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: when you're reporting your 2024 earnings in the application, make sure you also note any bonuses or overtime pay you received that year. Sometimes people forget to include these when estimating their annual earnings, but they can make a meaningful difference in your benefit calculation. Also, if you do decide to wait until your 2024 earnings show up in the system naturally, keep in mind that this typically happens after tax season when employers submit their W-2 data. So you might be looking at waiting until summer or even fall of 2025 for it to appear on your record organically. Given your August FRA date, filing sooner rather than later and then following up on the recalculation seems like the smarter move to me. You'll start receiving benefits and can always advocate for the adjustment once your 2024 data is processed.

I work for a local SSA office and can confirm that yes, we do include current year earnings even when they haven't posted to your record yet. When you file your application, there's a specific section where you'll report your 2024 earnings - make sure you're as accurate as possible with that number. The recalculation process is automatic once your W-2 data gets processed into our system (usually by late spring/early summer of the following year), but I always recommend people follow up if they don't see an adjustment by fall. Sometimes the automated recalculation gets stuck and needs a manual review. Given your situation with the lower earnings from 2018-2020, your $87,000 from 2024 will definitely help your benefit calculation since it will replace one of those lower years in your highest 35 years of earnings. Don't delay filing if you need the income - just keep good records and be prepared to follow up if needed.