Work after claiming
Working While Receiving Social Security
You can work while receiving Social Security retirement benefits. Before full retirement age, earnings above the annual limit can cause benefits to be withheld. Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce benefits under this test.
SSA sources reviewed September 9, 2026
- Under FRA throughout 2026
- $24,480 limit
- Reach FRA in 2026
- $65,160 limit
- At FRA
- No earnings limit
The 2026 withholding rules
If you are under full retirement age for all of 2026, SSA says it deducts $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above $24,480. In the year you reach FRA, it deducts $1 for every $3 earned above $65,160 and counts only earnings before the FRA month.
These limits are annual and change over time. The special monthly rule may apply in the first year of retirement. Verify the current rule with SSA for the year you plan to claim.
Withholding is not necessarily a permanent loss
SSA states that after full retirement age it recalculates the monthly amount to give credit for months when benefits were reduced or withheld because of excess earnings. That differs from the permanent early-claiming adjustment itself.
New earnings can affect the record
SSA reviews reported wages. If a new year is among your highest years, it may replace a lower year and increase the underlying benefit. Claiming Planner can model the earnings-record effect, but it does not currently calculate earnings-test withholding.
Official sources
Use these SSA pages to verify the rules and current annual amounts:
Educational information only. This page covers retired-worker benefits and is not personalized financial, tax, or legal advice. Confirm filing decisions and official benefit amounts with the Social Security Administration.