When figuring out the highest 35 years for the AIME, using indexing, some of my years before I turned 22 are higher than the years now as I approach my 35 years. In researching if the income can be included, some information on SSA shows that only the years after you turn 22 are calculated in the AIME but most articles on the Internet do not specify 22 and it looks like all income earned in any year of your life can be used. Please help to clarify this as I'm sure other people are in the same circumstance of figuring out if working the last 2-3 years is worth it or not in $0 year income calculations.

Hi,

There is no minimum age level for the years that can be included in a person's highest 35 wage-indexed earnings years. I don't know what Social Security information you're referencing, but if your earnings in years prior to the year you turned age 22 are among your highest 35 wage-indexed earnings years then they can be used to calculate your Social Security benefit rate (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf).

Best, Jerry