10 Ways to Score Higher Social Security Checks in 2022

Signing up for Social Security is an exciting step on the road to retirement, but it's also one that has far-reaching financial consequences. When you sign up affects how much you get from the program and, by extension, how comfortable your lifestyle is.

Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to boost your benefit. It's a good idea to run through the following 10 suggestions before you apply to make sure you're not missing any easy opportunities to earn more money.

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Your Social Security earnings record, which you can find in your my Social Security account, shows how much money you've paid Social Security taxes on over your working life. This is what the government considers when determining the size of your benefit, so you want to make sure it's right. Look yours over and compare it against your personal tax records.

If you notice any discrepancies, particularly if you notice a zero-income year when you know you worked, fill out a Request for Correction of Earnings Record form and submit it to the Social Security Administration along with any documentation you have showing your real income for the year.

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Those who are still working should consider asking for a raise if they believe they deserve one. Boosting your income today usually leads to a larger Social Security benefit when you sign up. The exception is for those earning over $147,000 in 2022. That's the maximum income subject to Social Security tax, so anything over this amount won't increase your benefits.

If you're asking for a raise, go in prepared. Highlight your recent accomplishments and be ready to explain why you think you think you deserve to be paid more.

If you dislike your current job or your boss won't give you a raise, consider seeking employment elsewhere. We're still in the midst of the "Great Resignation" and employers everywhere are offering better pay and benefits than normal in the hope of attracting and retaining great talent.

Update your resume and see what else is out there. Even if you don't want to quit your current job, you might be able to use another offer as leverage to get more money from your current employer.

Starting a side hustle is another option for increasing your income. There are virtually endless ways to make money these days, so it really comes down to what best aligns with your interests and time. You could drive for a ridesharing company, sell your own artwork, walk dogs, or build websites for people. The sky's the limit.

Just make sure you're budgeting money for taxes. It's the law, but it's also necessary to boost your Social Security checks since your benefit is based on the money you've paid Social Security taxes on.

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Married couples should sit down together to figure out when each person ought to sign up for benefits. When both partners have earned a similar amount over their lifetimes, it makes more sense for each person to delay benefits as long as possible. But when one person has earned significantly more than the other, it's more important for the higher earner to delay. The lower earner can sign up early if it helps the couple out financially.

Then, once the higher earner signs up for benefits, the Social Security Administration will automatically switch the lower earner over to a spousal benefit if that's worth more than the current benefit.

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Though it's uncommon, other members of your household may also qualify for Social Security benefits. Minor or disabled children of qualifying workers may be entitled to their own Social Security benefit. Surviving spouses and children of deceased workers may qualify for benefits as well.

The Social Security Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool can help you figure out which, if any, benefits each member of your household qualifies for.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is extra money that the Social Security Administration gives to blind and disabled people of all ages and older adults with limited income. This money is in addition to your standard Social Security benefit.

You can use the screening tool mentioned in the previous slide to determine if you're eligible for SSI. If you believe you are, reach out to the Social Security Administration to figure out what you need to do to claim these benefits.

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Every month you delay benefits increases your checks slightly until you turn 70. You might be dead set on claiming Social Security this year, but you have to decide when in the year you're going to sign up.

If you can afford to delay a few months, it's usually a good idea. Skipping benefits for a few months could result in thousands of dollars more over your lifetime.

For those still working, it makes sense to delay Social Security until you quit your job. Otherwise, your benefits might be subject to the Social Security Earnings Test. If you'll be under your full retirement age (FRA) for the whole year, you'll lose $1 from your Social Security check for every $2 you earn over $19,560. If you'll reach your FRA in 2022, you'll lose $1 for every $3 you earn over $51,960 if you hit this before your birthday.

Once you reach your FRA, the government recalculates your benefit to include the amount it withheld so your future checks are larger. But they won't be as big as they would've been if you just delayed benefits until you quit your job.

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There's nothing inherently wrong with signing up for Social Security in 2022, but waiting can be the better option sometimes. This is especially true for those under their FRA. Waiting another year or two to sign up can result in significantly larger checks.

For those who live into their 80s or beyond, delaying benefits usually results in a larger lifetime benefit than signing up early. But if you don't expect to live long, signing up right away could make more sense for you.

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There's a lot to consider when deciding whether to sign up for Social Security. It's important to weigh the pros and cons of signing up now and delaying benefits before you decide what's best for you. Once you've signed up, it's difficult to change your decision. But if you've thought about the factors above, you should be in a good position to determine if signing up in 2022 is right for you.

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