Will someone help me do the social security math?

I was just reading over how social security is calculated. They take an average of the top earning 35 years you worked. Please correct my understanding of that if I am wrong.

I worked from ages 14–42 every year I think. Maybe one or two years missing. I’m working part time now, and it occurred to me I am screwing myself for social security. I’m bringing my average down right? I’ll probably only make $15k and I have at least ten other years in my lifetime that made only $5k-$10k if I include teenage years and a few of the years I lived in TN.

I know I could do the math, but I’m tired and wanted the jellies to give me their opinion and understanding about the topic.

My SS several years ago was definitely more than half my husband’s (from what I understand you get the higher of the two). I might have screwed that up. I guess I’ll try to go onto the SS website and figure it out.

Would this influence whether you work or not?

I already have been thinking if I’m going to work I might as well go full force one more time in my life and make a good salary in a career I really have an affinity for, or go back to not working. Now thinking about the SS gives me more reason to do one extreme or the other. I think? That’s what the jelly collective is for, to help me think it through.