I began my first job washing dishes when I was 13 years old. Social Security does not recognize this employment. Am I being treated unfairly?

Starting Work at a Young Age: A Reader's Social Security Dilemma

“Throughout my college years, I held full-time jobs every summer.” (Photo for illustrative purposes.) - Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Letter to Quentin

My work life began at age 13, when I took on a dishwasher position, putting in 20 hours each week.

Despite being a full-time student, I continued to work full-time every summer, even during college. Now at 69, I began receiving Social Security benefits at 66 and a half. However, Social Security does not seem to recognize my first 12 years of employment, even though both taxes and Social Security contributions were deducted from my paychecks during that time.

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I’ve tried discussing this with my local Social Security office, but haven’t gotten anywhere. Currently, I receive about $1,700 per month, while my wife gets over $2,500 monthly, even though I have a longer work history. (She believes my low wages back then wouldn’t significantly affect my benefit.)

Am I being shortchanged?

Those early years likely had a lasting impact on your outlook toward work and finances. - MarketWatch illustration

Quentin Responds

Dear Frustrated,

Your wife’s perspective is worth considering.

And she should also hear you out. While your question is important, it may be less about your final Social Security payment and more about the fact that your early hard work has gone unrecognized in official records.

To address your concern directly: The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires 40 work credits (about 10 years of employment) to qualify for benefits, but your monthly payment is calculated using your 35 highest-earning years. More details are available .

Even if the SSA had records of your teenage and student jobs, those earnings were likely so low compared to your later career that they wouldn’t increase your current $1,700 monthly benefit.

According to the SSA: “Credits are based on your total wages and self-employment income for the year. You might work all year to earn four credits, or you might earn enough for all four in less time. The amount of earnings it takes to earn a credit may change each year.”

For example, in 2026, you’ll earn one credit for every $1,890 in covered earnings, up to a maximum of four credits ($7,560) per year. You may earn more credits than the minimum required, but extra credits do not increase your benefit amount.

How Social Security Calculates Benefits

As the SSA explains, “These extra credits do not increase your benefit amount. The average of your earnings over your working years, not the total number of credits you earn, determines how much your monthly payment will be when you receive benefits.”

The Fair Labor Standards Act and Early Work Records

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 made it illegal for most 13-year-olds to work in non-agricultural jobs, aiming to eliminate exploitative child labor. If you worked as a dishwasher at 13, it’s likely your employment wasn’t officially documented.

Until the late 1950s, Social Security records were kept manually or with early machines, such as punched cards. Information was stored on physical index cards.

In 1959, the SSA began using microfilm technology to centralize records, moving away from physical files. This transition started in 1958.

The age at which you claim benefits also matters. Delaying collection past your Full Retirement Age increases your payout by about 8% per year (or roughly two-thirds of 1% per month) until age 70. If you had waited until 70, your benefit would be around $2,176 monthly.

Your early years of work, both as a minor and a student, likely shaped your lifelong relationship with work and money. Those who start working at 13 rarely take financial security for granted.

While it may sound sentimental, the recognition you seek from the SSA for your early years of hard work is something you can give yourself. Those early jobs were not easy, and you deserve acknowledgment for your perseverance.

Teen Employment Trends and Legal Limits

Teen employment rates have dropped significantly over the past five decades, falling from about 60% in 1979 to 35-40% today. This decline is due to stricter labor laws, changing social and economic factors, and increased academic and extracurricular commitments.

The FLSA sets 14 as the minimum age for most jobs and limits the hours minors under 16 can work. For instance, 14- and 15-year-olds can work up to three hours on a school day and 18 hours during a school week, or eight hours on a non-school day and 40 hours during a non-school week. Some states have even stricter rules.

How to Track Down Missing Social Security Earnings

• Create a my Social Security account to review your recorded earnings and employers.
• Gather important documents, such as W-2s, pay stubs, tax returns, and IRS wage transcripts.
• Submit Form SSA-7008 to request a correction or schedule an appointment for an earnings record review. However, it’s unlikely that early, low-wage work will increase your monthly benefit.

Ultimately, your desire to have your teenage work years officially recognized is understandable. You deserve appreciation for your dedication and hard work as a young teenager many decades ago.

Your 13-year-old self would be proud.

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