Will my current SS contributions at 64 count toward benefits I'm already receiving since 62?

You don't lose those contributions! Social Security automatically recalculates your benefit amount each year if you continue working while receiving benefits. If your current earnings are higher than one of the years used to calculate your original benefit, your benefit could increase. This is called an Automatic Earnings Recomputation (AER) and happens every year after you've filed for benefits. You don't need to do anything - SSA handles it automatically.

my sister has same situation, she got like $40 more after working for a year while collecting. not much but better than nothing i guess

It's worth understanding that your benefit was calculated using your highest 35 years of indexed earnings. If you're still working and making good money, these new earnings years could replace lower-earning years in your calculation. The annual recomputation typically happens in October of the year following your work year, so 2024 earnings would be evaluated in October 2025. But don't expect a huge increase - it's usually modest since it's just replacing one year in a 35-year calculation. Also remember you're still subject to the earnings limit until your Full Retirement Age (FRA) - if you earn too much, they withhold some benefits.

SSA is TERRIBLE about explaining this stuff!! I worked for 2 years after starting benefits and never saw a PENNY more in my checks! They probably just KEEP all that money we put in after filing. The whole system is rigged if you ask me.

have u tried to call the social security office??? they could calculate exactly what ur getting

I was in your exact situation last year and spent weeks trying to get through to SSA to understand my recalculation. After getting disconnected multiple times, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at SSA in about 20 minutes. You might want to check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me hours of frustration and the agent I spoke with explained exactly how my continued work would affect my benefits and when to expect any changes.

just wondering but does anyone know if the money going to medicare is the same thing??? i see that coming out of my check too

I retired at 62 and went back to work part-time when I was 65. My benefit increased about $75/month after two years of working, which wasn't huge but definitely added up over time. One thing to remember is that once you reach your Full Retirement Age, there's no more earnings limit, so you can earn as much as you want without having benefits withheld. And yes, those earnings can still increase your benefit through the automatic recomputation. Also, if you had any months where benefits were withheld due to earning too much before FRA, SSA will adjust your reduction factor when you reach FRA, which can also increase your monthly benefit slightly.

Just to add one more thing - if you create a my Social Security account online (ssa.gov/myaccount), you can see your earnings record and make sure all your work is being properly credited. It's a good way to verify everything's in order without having to call SSA directly.

As someone who's been through a similar situation, I can confirm what others have said - your contributions aren't lost! I started collecting at 62 and continued working part-time until 67. The key thing to understand is that Social Security uses your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate your benefit, so if your current earnings are higher than some of those earlier years, they'll replace the lower years in the calculation. The timing can be confusing though - the recalculation typically happens in October following the year you worked, so there's often a delay. I'd recommend keeping track of your earnings and checking your annual Social Security Statement to see how your benefit calculation changes over time. Even small increases can add up significantly over the years, especially since you'll likely be receiving benefits for a long time. One more tip: if you're planning to work until your Full Retirement Age, remember that once you reach FRA, the earnings limit disappears completely, so you can earn as much as you want without any benefit withholding.