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How much of your Social Security is withheld if you work while collecting before full retirement age.
2026 benefits withheld$5,000about 4 monthly payments held back
| 2026 limit (under FRA all year) | $24,480 ($2,040/mo) |
|---|---|
| Earnings counted | $34,480 |
| Over the limit | $10,000 |
| $1 withheld for every $2 over | $5,000 |
| Benefits for 12 months | $18,000 |
| Benefits you still receive | $12,000 |
The SSA withholds whole monthly payments from the start of the year until the $5,000 is covered. At full retirement age your benefit is recalculated to give you credit for the months withheld, so the money is not lost. Earnings test applies to wages and net self-employment income only, not pensions, investment income or IRA withdrawals.
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Social Security earnings limits by year
The earnings test applies only until the month you reach full retirement age, and the limits rise each year with average wages[cola27][cola26].
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under full retirement age all year ($1 per $2 over) | $23,400 ($1,950/mo) | $24,480 ($2,040/mo) | $25,560 ($2,130/mo) |
| Year you reach full retirement age ($1 per $3 over) | $62,160 | $65,160 | $67,920 |
| From the month you reach FRA | No limit | No limit | No limit |
How much is withheld
Before the year you reach full retirement age, the SSA withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit; in the year you reach it, $1 for every $3 above the higher limit, counting only earnings before the month you reach FRA[work]. The SSA does this by holding back whole monthly checks from January until the amount is covered, then paying the rest of the year in full.
| Earnings | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $2,760 | $2,220 |
| $40,000 | $7,760 | $7,220 |
| $50,000 | $12,760 | $12,220 |
| $60,000 | $17,760 | $17,220 |
Worked example
You claim at 63 in January 2026 with a $1,500 monthly benefit and expect to earn $34,480, which is $10,000 over the limit. The SSA withholds $10,000 ÷ 2 = $5,000, so it holds back your January to April checks (4 × $1,500 = $6,000; the $1,000 extra is repaid early the next year) and pays May through December. The SSA's own booklet uses the same method: a $600 benefit with $26,080 of earnings loses $800, collected by holding the January and February checks and repaying $400 in 2027[work].
What counts as earnings, and what doesn't
- Counts: gross wages when earned (including bonuses and vacation pay) and net self-employment income when received[whilework].
- Does not count: pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, capital gains, IRA or 401(k) withdrawals, and other government benefits.
- First-year rule: in the year you retire, any month with wages under $2,040 (2026) and no substantial self-employment counts as a retired month, so you can get that month's check even if your annual earnings are over the limit.
Withheld benefits are not lost
At full retirement age the SSA recalculates your benefit as if you had claimed later, crediting every month that was withheld. The SSA's example: someone who claims at 62 with $910 a month and has 12 months withheld gets $975 a month from 67 instead of $910[work]. Over a long retirement this repays most or all of what was held back. To see how your claiming month changes the check, use the full retirement age calculator or the Social Security calculator.
Common mistakes with the earnings limit
- Counting your 401(k) or pension. Only work income counts. Large IRA withdrawals do not trigger withholding, though they can make benefits taxable and raise Medicare IRMAA surcharges.
- Using the lower limit in your FRA year. In the calendar year you reach full retirement age, the higher limit ($65,160 in 2026) and the $1-for-$3 rate apply.
- Forgetting the spouse. Your excess earnings can also withhold benefits paid to your spouse or children on your record (but a spouse's own earnings affect only the spouse's benefit).
Tell the SSA your estimateThe SSA withholds based on your estimated earnings. If you will earn more or less than you told them, update the estimate to avoid an overpayment notice.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I earn on Social Security in 2026?
$24,480 a year if you are under full retirement age for all of 2026, or $65,160 in the months before your FRA month if you reach FRA in 2026. From the month you reach full retirement age there is no limit.
What is the Social Security earnings limit for 2027?
$25,560 ($2,130 a month) under full retirement age, and $67,920 in the year you reach it, according to the SSA's 2027 COLA fact sheet.
Is there an income limit for Social Security benefits?
Only for work income before full retirement age. Investment income, pensions and retirement-account withdrawals never reduce benefits, though they can make up to 85% of benefits taxable.
What was the Social Security income limit in 2025?
$23,400 under full retirement age and $62,160 in the year of reaching it.