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Flowchart outlining Social Security earnings test limits and withholding formulas before reaching full retirement age.
Working before full retirement age triggers benefit withholding of $1 for every $2 or $3 earned above thresholds.

The Social Security Earnings Test Rules

If you collect Social Security retirement benefits before your Full Retirement Age (FRA)—which is age 67 for everyone born in 1960 or later—the Social Security Administration (SSA) applies an annual earnings limit:

  • Under Full Retirement Age for the Entire Year: In 2026, the annual earnings threshold is $24,480 ($2,040 per month). The SSA withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above this threshold. (In 2025, this cap was $23,400).
  • The Year You Reach Full Retirement Age: In 2026, the limit jumps to $65,160 ($5,430 per month). The SSA withholds $1 for every $3 earned above the limit for months prior to your birthday month. (In 2025, this cap was $62,160).
  • Reaching Full Retirement Age: Starting the month you hit your FRA, there is zero earnings penalty. You can earn an unlimited salary without losing any portion of your monthly Social Security benefit.

Withheld benefits are not permanently lost; once you reach Full Retirement Age, the SSA recalculates your monthly benefit upward to credit you for the payments that were previously withheld.

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Written by

Retirees in USA Editorial Team

The Retirees in USA Editorial Team is dedicated to helping American seniors and pre-retirees navigate every stage of retirement with confidence and clarity. Our content is thoroughly researched using authoritative sources — including SSA.gov, Medicare.gov, AARP, the National Council on Aging, IRS.gov, and CDC.gov — and reviewed for accuracy, practical value, and relevance before publication. We cover healthy aging, retirement income, Medicare, Social Security, senior lifestyle, and everything in between. Our mission is simple: give real people real answers about the retirement questions that matter most. All content on Retirees in USA is editorially reviewed and verified before going live.
See our Editorial Policy for full details on how we work.

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