Am I Entitled to More Social Security As a Veteran?
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Dear Rusty: I served in the U.S. Army from July 1964 to July 1967. Am I eligible for a higher Social Security payment? Thank you. Signed: Vietnam Era Army Vet
Rusty’s answer in brief
Possibly, but not as a separate payment. Veterans who served during certain periods can receive “special extra earnings credits” of up to $1,200 a year added to their military pay record, which can raise the benefit if those years rank among the highest 35 earning years of the veteran’s working life.
If the veteran had 35 or more higher-earning years after leaving the service, the credits would not change the benefit. A veteran who served in the 1960s and is not sure the credits were counted should call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask, ideally with a copy of the DD-214.
This recording presents the viewpoints of the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Staff, trained and accredited under the National Social Security Advisors program of the National Social Security Association, LLC (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Government, the Social Security Administration, or any other state government. To request additional information, contact our Advisory Staff at 888-750-2622, or email us at SSAdvisor@AmacFoundation.org.