Veterans in active duty service between January 1957 and December 31, 2001*, who are recently retired or currently planning for retirement, need to know how about how their Military service can equal a higher monthly Social Security earnings credit.
All veterans qualify for up to $1200 per year of additional earnings credit IF at least 24 months of their active duty Military service occurred during that time frame. If your service was between 1957 and 1967, you may need to re-apply for the benefit if you did not ask for it when you retired.
The credit is given to those who qualify at the time of application – You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security Office!
Here’s how the special extra earnings are credited on your record:
Service in 1957 Through 1977
You are credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which you received active duty basic pay.
Service in 1978 through 2001
For every $300 in active duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1,200 a year. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980, and didn’t complete at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional earnings. Check with Social Security for details.
If your active military service occurred:
- From 1957 through 1967, they will add the extra credits to your record when you apply for Social Security benefits.
- From 1968 through 2001, you do not need to do anything to receive these extra credits. The credits were automatically added to your record.
*In January 2002, Public Law 107-117, the Defense Appropriations Act, stopped the special extra earnings that have been credited to military service personnel, but allows those who served prior to that date to request the credit.
