15 Ways to Score Higher Social Security Checks This Year

Social Security benefits are protected against inflation and are not going to run out as long as you live. Both of these features make these benefits a crucial income source in your later years.

The good news is, both those nearing retirement and those who are still in the working world can take some steps in 2022 to increase their Social Security income. Here are 15 of them.

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When your benefit is calculated, the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a formula that provides you with a percentage of average income.

That means you can't afford errors in the earnings record the SSA keeps. You should check your record each year using your my Social Security account so you can correct any errors ASAP and get full credit for the money you've earned.

Since benefits are based on average income, a higher income obviously leads to a bigger Social Security check.

One of the best ways to boost your income is to advocate for yourself. If you're applying for a new job or having an annual performance review, ask your employer for a raise.

Even a small boost in income can pay off over time and lead to much bigger Social Security payments in your senior years.

There's a reason that a "Great Resignation" is occurring. A shortage of skilled workers has left many companies desperate for employees, and workers are demanding more out of the businesses that hire them.

Under these conditions, it's a great time to seek out new opportunities that could potentially raise your pay and lead to a higher future Social Security check.

Income from a side gig also counts toward Social Security, so you can raise your pay that way if you aren't able to get a raise or land a new job.

Working a few extra hours on your own each week could leave you with significantly more income now and raise your Social Security benefits in the future.

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It's helpful to understand how your Social Security benefits are calculated. This will enable you to make smart decisions and avoid reducing your benefits inadvertently.

The Social Security benefits formula provides you with:

• 90% of average inflation-adjusted earnings up to a first bend point;
• 32% of average earnings between a first and second bend point; and
• 15% of average earnings above the second bend point.

Each bend point is an income threshold.

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When the Social Security Administration determines average inflation-adjusted earnings, it takes a specific time period into account. The SSA uses your earnings in the 35 years when they were highest.

If you've worked for less than 35 years, your average will be reduced by years of $0 wages and thus your benefit will be lower. Try to avoid this if you can by not cutting your career short of this 35-year threshold.

Most people have some years in their career when they don't earn a lot of money. This could be early on when you're just getting started or it could be during your career if you take time off for family issues or because of unemployment.

If you're earning more later in your life than at any point during your earlier working years (on an inflation-adjusted basis), you can increase your Social Security benefit by working a little bit longer.

If you put in an extra year or more, you can end up with these later, higher-earning years pushing out lower-earning ones from your average wage calculation. This raises your average wage and boosts your benefit.

As soon as you turn 62, you can start getting Social Security checks. But each year you wait increases the amount of those checks either because you avoid early filing penalties or earn delayed retirement credits.

You can boost your check amount every year until age 70, when there's no additional benefit of waiting to file. Therefore, consider putting off your claim as long as possible to get more Social Security income.

ALSO READ: 4 Compelling Reasons to Delay Your Social Security Claim

While it's tempting to focus on increasing your monthly Social Security checks, it's also worth considering how your claiming choice affects lifetime benefits.

See, if you put off a Social Security claim, it pays off only if you earn a higher benefit for long enough to make up for the payments you missed that you were eligible for. If you don't outlive your life expectancy, this may not happen.

Think about your own health issues and how long people in your family have lived so you can decide on the best way to get the most Social Security income over your lifetime.

Married couples have a lot to think about when it comes to Social Security benefits. For example, if you're the higher earner and claim early, this could shrink survivor benefits your spouse gets if you pass away first.

Spouses should coordinate together to decide on an approach that maximizes their combined monthly income both now and in the future.

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If you are eligible for spousal or survivor benefits, then these may be higher than your own Social Security checks would be. Survivor benefits could also be available sooner.

These types of benefits can be claimed if you are currently married, but also if you divorced after at least 10 years of marriage. So make sure you know what benefits you're entitled to.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can provide up to $841 in monthly benefits. SSI benefits are separate from retirement income and are available to low-income people with limited resources who are 65 or older or who are disabled.

If you're struggling to get by on Social Security retirement checks alone, SSI could provide crucial extra help.

There are 13 states that tax Social Security benefits for at least some retirees. If you live in one of them, consider moving if you're among those whose benefits will be subject to taxation.

Otherwise, losing some of your retirement income to taxes will leave you with less of your check to cover your living costs.

ALSO READ: Retirees in These 13 States Risk Losing Some of Their Social Security Checks

The federal government also taxes Social Security benefits once provisional income exceeds $25,000 for single tax filers or $32,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Once your provisional income exceeds these thresholds, up to 85% of benefits could be taxed depending on how high your countable income is. Countable or provisional income is half your Social Security benefits, all taxable income, and some nontaxable income.

Any distributions from a Roth IRA won't count toward countable income, so if you want to avoid having the IRS take part of your Social Security checks, consider using a Roth for your retirement savings.

If you've retired before full retirement age (FRA), you're also at risk of reducing your Social Security checks if you're working and earning too much.

If you will hit FRA during the year and you earn more than $51,960 per year or $4,330 per month before that time, you'll lose $1 in benefits for each $3 extra earned. If you won't reach FRA at all, you'll lose $1 in benefits for each $2 extra earned above $19,560 per year or $1,630 per month.

Although your benefit is recalculated at full retirement age to account for missed income and you eventually get some of the money back, if you want your checks to keep coming early in retirement, you'll need to avoid a paycheck exceeding these levels.

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It's never too early to start maximizing your Social Security benefits. And even those nearing retirement may still have some steps they can take to boost their check.

Explore which of these 15 tips for raising your Social Security income will work for you and put as many into place as possible so you can have more income to enjoy your later years.

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