Do You Get Extra Social Security for Military Service?

The transition to civilian life comes with many financial planning milestones—one of the most important is understanding how military service affects Social Security benefits. The intersection of military benefits and Social Security might seem complex, but understanding it can help ensure you retire with enough money to live comfortably. 

In this article, we’ll cover how military service and military retirement pay affect Social Security, plus 6 tips to increase your Social Security benefits. 

We also have a detailed page that explains Social Security benefits for veterans with disabilities.

Can I get military retirement pay and Social Security? 

Yes, service members can receive both military retirement and Social Security benefits without reducing their Social Security pay.

Like civilian employees, military members pay Social Security taxes on their earnings, so they contribute to the Social Security system and are eligible for benefits at retirement age. 

Veterans who served during certain years are also eligible for extra Social Security benefits. 

Do I get extra Social Security for military service?

Yes, you are eligible for additional Social Security credits if you served in the military between 1940 and 2001. Military service after 2001 doesn’t qualify for these extra Social Security credits. 

A Social Security credit is a basic unit used to calculate eligibility for Social Security benefits. These credits are how the Social Security Administration (SSA) tracks how long you’ve worked and contributed to the Social Security system through payroll taxes. You earn these credits based on your yearly work income; the more credits you earn and the longer you work, the higher your benefit will be.

The credits you earn for military service count toward your lifetime earnings and are used to calculate your Social Security Benefits. How much this impacts your Social Security pay depends on when you served and for how long. 

If You Served Between 1940 and 1956

Before 1956, Social Security taxes weren’t automatically taken out of military paychecks. 

However, the government worked out a plan that would credit you with earnings of $160 for each month you served during those years as long as you met at least one of the following requirements:

• You were honorably discharged after serving at least 90 days.
• You were injured or disabled in the line of duty and released.
• You’re still on active duty.
• You’re a surviving spouse whose veteran spouse died while on active duty.

If you served during this time period, the extra credits will be added to your record when you apply for Social Security. The only caveat is that you can’t receive credit if you already receive a federal benefit for the same year(s) of service.

Contact your local Social Security office for additional details and guidance.

If You Served Between 1956 and 1978 

Servicemembers who were on active duty between 1956 and 1978 are also eligible for a Social Security benefit. This group qualifies for $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which they received basic active duty pay. 

If you served any time before 1968, you can add your credits to your account when you apply for Social Security.

If You Served Between 1978 and 2001

If you served on active duty between 1978 and 2001, you get an additional $100 in earnings credited for every $300 in active duty basic pay, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.

If you served any time after 1968, your service should already be accounted for when you apply for Social Security. However, you should be prepared to verify this information, which is another reason your DD Form 214 (military service record) is so important!

How to Apply for Social Security Benefits

Servicemembers can apply for Social Security benefits online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 am and 7:00 pm Monday through Friday, or by visiting your local Social Security office. 

When Should You Apply for Social Security Benefits?

Many people start receiving Social Security benefits as soon as they are eligible, which for most Americans is age 62. But just because you’re eligible to start receiving Social Security benefits doesn’t mean you should take them immediately.

Here are a few things to consider regarding Social Security benefit timing.

Delaying Social Security Benefits Can Result in Higher Payments 

In general, you can begin receiving Social Security Benefits at age 62, but in many cases, it’s worth delaying your start date if possible.

The SSA reduces payments for those who start receiving benefits before reaching their full retirement age (FRA). The FRA is the age at which beneficiaries can receive full Social Security benefits; until 2002, it was age 65 for everyone. The reduction helps incentivize people to wait longer to accept benefits so the system remains financially balanced.

The table below shows your FRA based on your birth year.

If You Were Born In:	Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) Is:
1937 or earlier	65 years of age
1938	65 and 2 months
1939	65 and 4 months
1940	65 and 6 months
1941	65 and 8 months
1942	65 and 10 months
1943 to 1954	66 years of age
1955	66 and 2 months
1956	66 and 4 months
1957	66 and 6 months
1958	66 and 8 months
1959	66 and 10 months
1960 or later	67 years of age

If you accept your benefits after reaching your FRA, you’ll receive the full amount due with no reduction. 

How much do you lose taking Social Security early?

When you take Social Security benefits early, you receive less each month based on how many months before FRA you start collecting. These reductions affect your benefits for life.

Your total Social Security amount is reduced by 0.55% for each month you collect benefits before your FRA, up to 36 months. If you start taking benefits more than 36 months before retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by an additional 0.42% per month. 

Let’s look at the reduction formula with an example: 

Say your FRA is 66. Your Social Security benefits will decrease by about 6.67% per year (or about 0.56% per month) for the first three years you claim early. If you claim more than three years early, the reduction increases to about 5% per year (or about 0.42% per month) for each additional year.

Here’s another way of viewing it:
If your FRA is at 67 and you start claiming Social Security benefits at age 62, you face a permanent reduction of about 30%. 

If your FRA is 66 and you claim at 62, you face a permanent 25% reduction. 

If you accept Social Security benefits before reaching FRA, your benefit reduction will be permanent.

Tips to Increase Your Social Security Benefits

The Social Security system benefits taxpayers who have paid into it over the years. 

Unfortunately, it can be confusing if you haven’t had time to research available Social Security Benefits and the situations that may entitle you to additional benefits. Not understanding this system could cost you money when you can least afford it and when you should be enjoying retirement.

Below are tips to increase your Social Security benefits and make your retirement years easier.

Tip #1: Your Retirement Age Affects Your Benefits

As mentioned above, you can earn less than or equal to the normal Social Security Benefit for your lifetime earnings, depending on when you begin taking Social Security payments. You can also earn additional Social Security credits by delaying your benefits past your FRA. 

The SSA offers delayed retirement credits, which reward people who collect Social Security late. For each year you delay past your FRA, up to age 70, your Social Security retirement benefits increase.

Delayed retirement credits accrue monthly and increase your benefits by a certain percentage, depending on your year of birth. For those born in 1943 or later, the increase is 8% per year, or about 0.67% per month. You can accumulate these credits until you reach age 70, after which delaying provides no additional benefit.

For example, if your FRA is 67 and you delay claiming until age 70, your Social Security benefits would increase by 24% over what you would have received at age 67. 

Tip #2: Working While Receiving Benefits Can Impact Your Income

If you collect Social Security while still working, your benefits can also be temporarily reduced. 

Here’s how it works:

• Before You Reach FRA: If you are under your full retirement age for the entire year, an earnings limit triggers Social Security to start withholding benefits once you exceed it. For 2026, this limit is $24,480, but it will likely change in upcoming years. However, the general rule is that Social Security withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above this limit.
  
• Year You Reach FRA: The year you reach FRA, your earnings limit increases, and the amount withheld changes. For 2026, the limit is $65,160, and Social Security withholds $1 in benefits for every $3 earned over the limit until the month you reach your FRA.
  
• After Reaching FRA: Once you reach your FRA, regardless of how much you earn in any of the following years, your Social Security benefits will not be reduced.
  

Any benefits withheld for exceeding the earnings limit are not “lost.” Once you reach FRA, your monthly benefit amount will increase to account for months when Social Security withheld your benefits due to excess earnings.

Additionally, higher earnings can increase your overall benefit amount, as Social Security calculates benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If your earnings in later years are higher than any previous years used to calculate your benefit, your benefit will be recalculated and could increase.

Tip #3: Your Social Security Benefit May Be Taxable

The government establishes income thresholds to determine who pays taxes on benefits and who doesn’t. 

If half of your Social Security income and your other income (such as investment earnings, pension payments, tax-exempt interest, and other wages) exceed the threshold, you may owe taxes on benefits. 

Social Security Tax Limit
Single Filing	If your income is between $25,000 and $34,000, up to 50% is taxable. If your income exceeds $34,000, up to 85% is taxable.
Married, Filing Jointly	If your combined income is between $32,000 and $44,000, up to 50% is taxable. If your combined income exceeds $44,000, up to 85% is taxable.
Married, Filing Separately	If you file separately but lived with your spouse at any point during the year, 85% of your benefits will likely be taxable. If you file separately and lived separately from your spouse all year, the Single Filing applies to your income and tax limits.

Tip #4: Pay Attention to Social Security Statements

Over the years, you have probably noticed an annual Social Security statement arriving in your mailbox. However, the Social Security Administration no longer mails these statements unless you fill out and mail a request form. This typically takes four to six weeks. However, you can register for a free online account at SSA.gov to view your annual earnings statement and projected Social Security Benefits when you reach retirement age.

It is important to pay attention to the information contained in this statement. Review your statement each year to ensure your earnings are reported correctly. Your earnings history plays a vital role in determining your Social Security benefits. 

If you notice errors in the statement, it is your responsibility to report these mistakes. Correcting an error in your lifetime earnings could significantly increase benefits.

Tip #5: Social Security Benefits May Increase to Keep Up With Inflation

The government applies an annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to Social Security benefits. The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The increases depend on changes in the cost of living over the previous four quarters. 

Tip #6: Avoid Garnishments That Reduce Your Benefits.

Generally, Social Security benefits are protected from most debt collection actions. This doesn’t apply to back taxes, outstanding federal student loans, child support, and alimony. If any of these debts linger from the past, take the necessary steps to satisfy your obligations to protect your benefits from garnishment.

When you understand how your benefits work and what you can do to increase your Social Security paycheck, you create financial and personal peace in your later years. For many retirees, this paycheck may be their only income during retirement. Whether Social Security is your only source of income or a supplement to other sources of income, you must fully receive the benefits to which you are entitled.

Use this Information to Assist Your Retirement Planning

If you are unsure where you stand with your benefit amounts, you can contact the Social Security Administration to request a copy of a current benefits statement. Your individualized statement will include benefit payouts for taking benefits at age 62, at your FRA, and at age 70. You can also access statements on the SSA.gov website.

You’ll need to assess your financial situation to determine your need and time frame for accessing benefits. If you can support yourself, you may benefit from waiting as long as you can before requesting benefits.

If you cannot live without the additional funds before reaching your full retirement age, consider taking reduced benefit payments to stay on track financially. Base your decision carefully on your needs, your spouse’s age, and your life expectancy based on your current medical situation and family history.

When you become eligible to start drawing Social Security, you will receive not only your full Social Security benefits but also additional benefits for military service if you served during the years mentioned above. Remember to verify that you receive this additional benefit when you apply. Also double-check for this benefit when applying for Social Security survivor benefits to ensure survivors receive additional military service credits.

Taking your Social Security and military retirement pay into account with your other investments, such as the Thrift Savings Plan or a Roth IRA, can help you secure your finances and afford a comfortable retirement.