In 2026, if you are under your FRA for the full year, you can earn up to $24,480 before your benefits are affected. For every $2 earned above that limit, the SSA withholds $1 in benefits. In the year you reach your FRA, the threshold rises to $65,160, and only $1 is withheld for every $3 over the limit applied only to earnings before the month you reach FRA. Once you reach Full Retirement Age, the earnings limit goes away entirely and you can earn any amount without reduction. Importantly, benefits withheld due to the earnings test are not permanently lost the SSA recalculates your monthly benefit upward at FRA to credit you for months when payments were reduced. Understanding this limit is critical for anyone considering claiming Social Security while still working part- or full-time.

Related Topics

What Are Social Security Benefits?

Social Security benefits are monthly federal payments that replace part of your pre-retirement income—usually alongside savings and workplace accounts, not as your only retirement source.

How Is Social Security Calculated?

Your benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation, then run through a progressive formula that produces your Primary Insurance Amount at Full Retirement Age.

Social Security at 62, 67, and 70: What’s the Difference?

You can claim as early as 62, at Full Retirement Age (67 for most workers today), or as late as 70—and the age you choose permanently shapes your monthly payment.

Social Security at 62 vs. 70: Which Is Better?

Claiming at 62 brings income sooner; waiting until 70 can lock in a benefit up to 77% higher—with break-even often around age 80 to 82.

When Should I Take Social Security?

The best claiming age depends on your health, work status, other income, spousal benefits, and taxes—not a one-size-fits-all rule.

Benefits of Delaying Social Security

Each month you delay past Full Retirement Age up to 70 adds about two-thirds of one percent to your benefit—roughly 8% per year for life.

Will Social Security Run Out in 20 Years?

Trust fund depletion would not end Social Security—ongoing payroll taxes would still fund most benefits, but planning should not rely on benefits alone.

How Do I Find Out My Social Security Benefit Amount?

Create a free my Social Security account at SSA.gov to view earnings history and personalized estimates at ages 62, Full Retirement Age, and 70.

What Is a Social Security Strategy?

A Social Security strategy is a deliberate plan for when and how to claim so you maximize lifetime income—not just filing at the earliest eligible age.

How Does Retiring Early Affect Social Security?

Stopping work before 62 can lower your benefit by adding zero-earnings years and skipping high-earning years that could replace lower ones in your 35-year average.

Social Security and IRA Withdrawals

Traditional IRA withdrawals count toward combined income and can trigger federal tax on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits.

What Is the Social Security Earnings Limit?

Related Topics