Hi Larry,
My 2021income was $15,000 more than my 35th lowest earning year. I started receiving benefits in June of 2022 so it wasn't considered in calculating my benefits. Am I correct that SSA will recalculate in December and pay me the difference retroactively in a lump sum. Also, my benefits are currently $2551/month, can you tell what my new benefit amount would be? Thanks.

Hi. Social Security does automatically recalculate retirement benefit rates to consider higher years of earnings, but those automated recomputations are usually done in around September of the year following the year of higher earnings. So, if your 2021 earnings weren't used in calculating your initial benefit rate, you would likely have already received your recomputation and back pay by now.

Are you sure that your 2021 earnings weren't included in your original benefit computation? Social Security often posts 2021 earnings to a person's earnings record by March or April of 2022, particularly if it's wages. And, if your 2021 earnings were posted to your earnings record when you applied for benefits, then those earnings would have already been included when your benefit rate was calculated.

In any case, though, I can't tell you exactly how much your 2021 earnings would have increased your benefit rate. But, you could use the benefit calculator that's included in our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to find out, which would also tell you whether or not your current benefit rate includes your 2021 earnings.

Best, Jerry