I turn 66 in Oct. So I think my first SS check will be in Feb. If I continue to work full time will my check stay the same or increase as I continue to work??
Thank you.
Micky

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

If you were born in October 1956, then your full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security retirement benefits is 66 & 4 months. So, unless you were born on the first day of October, then your FRA month would be February 2023. However, Social Security pays benefits behind a month, so if you claim benefits effective with February 2023 then your first payment would be scheduled for sometime in March 2023.

Most importantly, though, you have many different filing options to consider besides simply filing for your benefits at FRA. Your best option depends on numerous different factors, and the best filing strategy for each person depends on all of those different factors. You may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry