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Can a veteran reservist increase their benefits
Michael,
Thank you for your military service. I assume you are asking whether your service as a military reservist will increase your military benefits, which is outside our area of expertise here at the AMAC Foundation. We’re experts in Social Security matters, but not in VA pensions and VA benefits, so for answers to your VA benefit questions you should contact the VA at this link: https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/
However, if you are asking whether your pay as a military reservist will affect your Social Security benefits, the answer is that it may, depending on the amount of your military earnings and your private earnings. Social Security benefits, when claimed, are based upon two primary things – your age when you claim, and the average monthly earnings you had over the 35 highest earning years of your career. You pay Social Security FICA taxes on your military reservist earnings, so those earnings will be included when computing your Social Security benefit. If you’re already receiving SS benefits and also serving as a military reservist, your earnings will be examined annually to see if an increase in your Social Security benefit is warranted as a result of your reservist earnings. If this does not answer your question, please feel free to contact us via email at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org, or call us directly at 1.888.750.2622 to speak directly with one of our SS advisors.
Russell Gloor
National Social Security Advisor
The AMAC Foundation