Special Military Social Security Rate

Under certain circumstances, veterans who served between 1940 and 2001 may receive credit for “special extra earnings” for Social Security purposes.

These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your Social Security benefit.

• The special extra earnings are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training.
• Special extra earnings are not granted for inactive duty training.

Social Security doesn’t add these extra earnings to your record until you file for benefits.

Here’s How It Works

The information that follows applies only to active-duty military service earnings from 1940 through 2001.

This program adds to your overall income factor and may have little effect on your actual monthly Social Security benefit, because the increased earnings do not automatically mean an equal increase in monthly benefits.

Here’s how the special extra earnings are credited:

1978-2001

If you served in the years from 1957 to 1977, then for every $300 in active-duty basic pay, you are credited with an additional $100 in earnings up to a maximum of $1,200 a year. If you enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, and didn’t complete at least 24 months of active duty or your full tour, you may not be able to receive the additional earnings. Check with Social Security for details.

1957-1977

If you served in the years from 1957 to 1977, you are credited with $300 in additional earnings for each calendar quarter in which you received active-duty basic pay.

Note: The increased earnings do not automatically give you an equal increase in monthly benefits.

If you were in the military during this period, including attendance at a service academy, you did not pay Social Security taxes. However, your Social Security record may be credited with $160 a month in earnings for military service from Sept. 16, 1940, through Dec. 31, 1956, under the following circumstances:

• You were honorably discharged after 90 or more days of service, or you were released because of a disability or injury received in the line of duty; or
• You are still on active duty; or
• You are applying for survivors benefits and the veteran died while on active duty.

— Additional reporting by Jim Absher

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