Former NFL Player Finds 3 High-Paid Seasons Barely Lift Social Security Under 35-Year Rule
Updated
Updated · 24/7 Wall St. · Aug 16
Former NFL Player Finds 3 High-Paid Seasons Barely Lift Social Security Under 35-Year Rule
2 articles · Updated · 24/7 Wall St. · Aug 16
Summary
Three NFL seasons did not sharply raise the former linebacker’s expected Social Security check because benefits are based on a worker’s highest 35 years of indexed covered earnings, with zeros filling any missing years.
In 1985, even a $250,000 football salary would have counted as only $39,600 for Social Security because earnings above that year’s taxable maximum were neither taxed nor credited toward benefits.
Thirty teaching years matter only if that job was covered by Social Security; if not, those wages do not enter the calculation, and three NFL seasons alone would usually fall short of the 40 credits needed.
The repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision removed one potential benefit cut for workers with noncovered pensions, but it did not turn noncovered teaching pay into Social Security earnings.
Another year of covered work can replace a zero or low-earning year, while extra pay above the annual Social Security ceiling in the same year adds nothing to the retirement formula.