Social Security benefits based on top 35 years of work earnings

in /Ask Phil by

Donald – Tenn.: Why does Social Security use only the last 15 years you worked for your benefits instead of all the years you put in? I worked from 1976 at various jobs until 1999. It seems to me that you would make more benefits if they used all your work history instead of just 15 years.

Phil Moeller: Someone gave you bad information. Social Security bases benefits on your highest 35 years of earnings, and also weights earlier-year earnings to remove the effects of subsequent wage inflation. If you keep working, the agency will automatically increase your benefits if you have a new “top 35” earnings year.