Military Service Impact on Social Security Benefits - Charting Retirement

I use the Social Security Detailed Benefit Calculator (AnyPIA) to determine the impact of my military service on benefits. There are Special Extra Earnings for Military Service that can increase your effective income for years of qualifying service and therefore increase your benefit.

#earlyretirement #financialindependence #retirement #militarybenefits #socialsecurity

[vstromrider]

This first came up on my feed a little while ago and I did not believe it. Thank you showing exactly how this works. I calculated My PIA to the penny before I started collecting SS in 2021, However My first four years a 20 years of military service were not used in my 35 years for calculating AIME. Even when indexed they were my lowest income years from 42 years of earnings. Need to go back and to see what the difference will be. Every nickel counts.

[mrgee]

Great info! I wasn't aware of the military benefit for SS, and today, every dollar counts!!

[mikeschumacher]

A shell back. Thank you for your service.

[davidpipes]

My military service was for 9 yrs and it was automatically credited to my account , this is what my account showed me .

[davidwatson]

1st time I've heard of this benefit thank you

[sglenn]

Thanks for the video. I server 1973-1994. I plan to check this out.

[ftincyclist]

I am Broken service.
In active duty June 1976 till June 1980.
Then went back to Active duty Jan 1982 and Retired February 1998.🎉

[davidfenton]

Every little bit helps. Thank you for this.

[nobrien]

I discovered that the vast majority of veterans automatically get this when they apply for SS; assuming that answered when asked they were a veteran when they applied for SS. SS then automatically checks with the VA and adds the extra earnings. I was told that there is a block of vets from '67 - '69 whose records were lost in a fire that might have to separately apply.

[demarius]

Great info my fellow SHELL BACK! USS MIDWAY/USS INDEPENDENCE

[frankfrank]

I checked this out and I went to the SSA office and they said for my 21 years of continuous service in the USAF starting from 1957 on, I had no extra funds due for anything.

[forcesightknight]

Great information sir.
Thanks
Semper fi

[navyretired]

When I applied for social security none of the military service questions popped up on the questionnaire

[CageyLeigh]

So, I served for 6 years after I got out of high school. Then I went to college, got a degree, then worked 40 years in the computer industry. Even my first year of wages, after graduation, was more than my military salaries. Retired at 66, waited until I was 70 before taking benefits. So ‘obviously’, my top 35 years were not my military years. So, my military service does not impact my SSA benefits in any way, right? It’s difficult to imagine that anyone’s military service being in your highest earning years, unless you were a lifer.

[aconsideredmoment]

I am reading sites stating the 35 yr period used to calculate AIME starts no earlier than age 22. Is this true or false. Military service starting at 18 includes deductions paying into SSA. That is paying insurance premiums and now ssdi due must include, right? Service starting 1989.

[DavidOptions]

SSI checks this when you first apply so don't worry about it.

[richardrosenau]

Please allow me to take a stab in the dark, the Special earing credit 1200 a year would NOT show on our W-2 & LES will both show without the 1200.
When we review our SSI statement for those years that do fall in the correct timeline should show the additional 1200 to be above what an old LES/W-2 total wages amount shows

[karl]

military service jan 3 78 to jan 3, 82 then out for 3 weeks then 28 jan 82 to 28 jan 98. is this 2 periods. both with navy.

[eugenedavis]

I proudly served proudly in both U.S.Army for 8 yearsand the National Guard 11'/2 years aND 29 years and 11 months in the U.S. Postal Service and I'm about to apply for Social Security 2 weeks before I turn 62 and looking for to how I will recieve in Social Security.

[Matt_Allgood]

Do you know if this applies to disability benefits (SSDI), as well?