Full question: My wife has reached full retirement age. She is working and self-employed. She hasn’t paid taxes for last year yet this year. Should she wait until she files taxes before requesting to start benefits? Will she get an adjustment to her benefit if she starts SS before filing her taxes for last year? Will she get future adjustments if she keeps working and contributing?
Hello,
Your wife can file for benefits up to four months prior to the time she wants them to begin. If her income taxes for 2025 have not been filed, her earnings will not yet be in the IRS database for the SSA to use in her benefit calculation.
In this case, her benefit will be adjusted later if those particular years earnings are in her highest 35 years in the benefit calculation.
Retirement benefits are based on the highest 35 years of earnings, after being adjusted for inflation, and then also on the age the beneficiary begins collecting. Here are more details on how retirement benefits are determined.
For personalized support, work with an RSSA.