I am 70 started collecting SS benefits January of this 2021. I believe I have 29 years of substantial earnings. and the SSA is using a factor .85 rather than .9 for the first 996 of earnings.. I have a possible employment opportunity starting in 2021 that would result in substantial earnings for the year (certainly for 2022) Person who answered the phone at SSA claims any earnings after I am 70 won't change my SSA payment. Is this correct?

Hi. No, assuming that you're collecting your own Social Security retirement benefits. Your Social Security retirement benefit rate can be recalculated at any age to include additional years of Social Security covered earnings regardless of your age.

I assume from your question that your benefit rate is currently reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). If you have another year of substantial earnings, your benefit rate could be recalculated to lessen or eliminate the reduction caused by WEP. Furthermore, your base benefit, or primary insurance amount (PIA), could be recalculated if you have a new year of earnings that's higher than one of your current highest 35 earnings years on which your benefit rate is based.

By the way, our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is fully programmed to handle WEP computations, so you may want to use the software to determine how much if any effect that your future earnings would have on your benefit rate.

Best, Jerry