I recently completed my Social Security retirement application online and didn't understand question 23, which asked to list each month of 2016 in which I did not or will not earn more than $1310? I am not eligible for benefits until March 2017. I thought these exempt months count only when I start receiving benefits. Thank you.

Hi,

In some cases, the month of election to start benefits is contingent on a person's estimated total and monthly earnings, so some of the earnings questions on Social Security applications may or may not be relevant depending on the person's first month of potential eligibility. If you're not old enough to start benefits until 2017, though, the application questions about your 2016 earnings are irrelevant and it won't matter how you answer them.

Best, Jerry