3 Ways to Score a Richer Monthly Social Security Payout
Any kind of monthly check you don't have to work for is pretty awesome, but let's be honest: When it comes to Social Security, we all want as much as we can get. Many don't realize it, but there are several easy ways you can beef up your Social Security checks, even if you're not yet eligible to apply. Here are three you can try to lock in larger benefit checks for life.
The Social Security Administration calculates your benefit amount using data on your average monthly earnings over your 35 highest-earning years. You don't have to work that long to qualify for benefits, but if you exit the workforce before hitting the 35-year mark, you'll have some zero-income years factored into your benefit calculation, permanently reducing how much you'll get from the program.
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Source Fool.com