I am working as an independent contractor paying SSI for the last 5 years. I waited until I was. fully eligible. Should my contributions increase my monthly SSI check, since My contractor contribution hasn’t mov d my check forward at all ? Why am I paying SSI if it doesn’t help my SSI bottom line

Hi. Social Security retirement benefits are based on an average of a person's highest 35 years of Social Security covered wage-indexed earnings, so any additional years of earnings you have will only increase your benefit rate if they're higher than one or more of the 35 years currently being used to calculate your benefit rate.

Regardless of whether or not your earnings are high enough to increase your benefit rate, though, you're still required to pay Social Security taxes on any covered earnings. The reason for that is because it's part of the Social Security Act that was passed into law by Congress.

Best, Jerry