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How Will Six Years Of Zero Earnings Affect My SS Benefit?
Hi larry. I h ave put in 29 years of work. and have decided to stop working. I am now 54.6 years. How will this last 6 years of zeros (total not adding up to 35 years) effect my SS benefit
Hi. Including 6 years of zero earnings in a 35 year earnings average obviously lowers the average annual amount. For example, if a person earned an average of $50,000 per year for 29 years, their 35 year average earnings would be $41,428.57. That lower average would in turn result in a lower Social Security retirement benefit rate for that person.
However, the actual difference that your early retirement would make to your 35 year earnings average depends on how much you would otherwise have earned if you had continued working. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) includes a Social Security benefit calculator, so you may want to consider using the software to do your Social Security calculations and planning.
Best, Jerry