Ask Terry Questions Social Security

Social Security

By Terry Savage on January 03, 2026 | Social Security

Hi Terry, My question is regarding social security if I have a well-paying job at 45 and then when I get to 60 I take a lower paying (less stress job)to work until 70. Does that reduce the amount that I will receive for payments with social security?

Terry Says

SS uses 35 years of wage-indexed earnings to calculate benefits, so a few lower earning years before retirement won’t have a big impact on your benefits.
Read this:

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/Benefits.html

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