2025 SS earnings limit confusion - FRA in March but need benefits in January for husband's surgery
I'm really stressed about my retirement timing and earnings limits. I reach my full retirement age (FRA) in March 2025, but I'm considering starting my Social Security benefits in January 2025 due to my husband's upcoming medical situation. He's scheduled for a major back surgery next month, and doctors warned there's a significant risk of partial paralysis. I might need to reduce my hours or take leave to care for him. My big question is about the earnings test: If I claim in January (2 months before my FRA), will I be subject to the lower annual limit of $23,400 for the entire year, or would I get the higher limit of $62,160 since 2025 is my FRA year? Does starting in January versus February make any difference with these limits? I'm trying to balance several factors: having income if I need to care for my husband, potentially continuing to work if his recovery goes well, and not losing benefits to the earnings test. Any insights from people who've navigated this specific timing issue would be so helpful!
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Nick Kravitz
The good news is that since 2025 is your FRA year, you'll be subject to the higher earnings limit of $62,160 for the whole year, regardless of whether you start in January or any other month in 2025. The annual earnings test looks at the calendar year in which you reach FRA, not the specific month. For months before your FRA during your FRA year, SSA will deduct $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above the higher limit. After you reach FRA in March, there's no more earnings test at all. Given your husband's situation, starting benefits in January makes sense if you need the income security. You'd have substantial room to work under that higher earnings limit while still receiving full benefits.
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Samantha Johnson
•Thank you so much! That's such a relief to hear. So even though I'm claiming 2 months early, I still get the $62,160 limit for the entire year? That gives me much more flexibility with work. I was worrying about having to choose between income and benefits.
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Hannah White
just went thru this with my wife last yr. she turned FRA in August but started benefits in January. the higher limit applied for the whole year so dont worry!!! its the year that matters not the month u start
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Samantha Johnson
•That's so helpful to hear about your wife's experience! Did she have any issues with Social Security processing the benefits with the correct earnings limit? I'm worried they might accidentally apply the wrong limit.
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Michael Green
Sorry to hear about your husband's surgery. The Social Security rules can be so confusing! I think there's a special form you need to fill out to make sure they apply the right earnings limit. My neighbor had this exact situation and ended up getting hit with an overpayment notice because SSA applied the wrong limit. You should definitely call them directly to confirm everything is set up correctly from the beginning. I tried calling SSA for weeks when I was filing and could never get through. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. It was worth it to get my questions answered directly by SSA rather than relying on what people tell you online (even me!). With your husband's situation, you want to make sure everything is set up correctly from the start.
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Samantha Johnson
•Thank you for the suggestion and for your concern about my husband. I hadn't heard of that service before. I was planning to visit our local office, but with everything going on with my husband's pre-surgery appointments, getting through by phone would be so much easier. I'll definitely check out that video.
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Mateo Silva
My dad got really messed up with this last year!!! He thought he had the higher limit but SS kept taking money from his checks. Turned out he misunderstood which limit applied and when. Seriously don't trust what anyone here says CALL SOCIAL SECURITY!!!
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Victoria Jones
•This is incorrect information. The earnings limit is very straightforward - in the calendar year you reach FRA, the higher limit ($62,160 for 2025) applies regardless of which month you start benefits. After FRA, no limit applies at all. The SS website clearly explains this. Your father's situation was likely different or was processed incorrectly, which does happen occasionally.
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Cameron Black
THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE US!!! I had the EXACT same situation in 2023 and ended up losing almost $4,800 in benefits because of their ridiculous earnings test!! No one at SSA could even explain it properly. One agent told me one thing, another told me something completely different. Then they sent me an overpayment notice a year later!!! Be VERY careful and get EVERYTHING in writing. Record your phone calls with them if your state allows it. They WILL mess this up and then blame you for their mistakes.
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Nick Kravitz
•I understand your frustration, but it's important to clarify that the earnings test rules are actually consistent. The confusion usually comes from misunderstandings or incorrect application. For 2025, the earnings limit for people reaching FRA during the year is $62,160. After reaching FRA, there's no limit at all. The OP's situation is straightforward - since she reaches FRA in March 2025, the higher limit applies for the whole year regardless of when she starts benefits in 2025.
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Jessica Nguyen
Sending prayers for your husband's surgery. My cousin had similar back surgery last year and everyone was worried about paralysis but he came through fine. Try not to worry too much. For the SS question, I think the others are right about the higher limit. My sister started her SS 3 months before FRA last year and definitely got the higher limit. But make sure you keep track of your earnings carefully just in case.
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Samantha Johnson
•Thank you so much for the prayers and for sharing your cousin's positive outcome. That really helps ease my mind a bit. And it's reassuring to hear about your sister's experience with the earnings limit too. I'll definitely keep careful records of everything.
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Hannah White
ur hubby and mine should talk my husband had that exact surgery they said paralysis might happen but he was up walking 2 days later back to work in 3 months doctors always say the worst case scenario but most ppl do fine
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Isaiah Thompson
•This is off-topic from the Social Security question being discussed. Let's help the OP with her earnings limit question rather than medical anecdotes.
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Victoria Jones
To summarize the correct information: 1. Since 2025 is your FRA year, the higher earnings limit ($62,160) applies for the ENTIRE year. 2. For January and February (before you reach FRA), Social Security will deduct $1 for every $3 you earn above that limit. 3. Starting in March when you reach FRA, there is NO earnings limit at all - you can earn any amount without reduction. 4. If you start benefits in January, you'll receive slightly reduced benefits (approximately 1.1% reduction for each month before FRA). Given your husband's health situation, starting in January makes perfect sense. You'll have the security of income if you need to reduce work hours, but still have substantial room to earn under that higher limit if his recovery goes well and you can continue working.
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Samantha Johnson
•Thank you for this clear summary. This is exactly what I needed to understand. The permanent reduction for claiming early is small enough that the security of having benefits during this uncertain time seems worth it. I appreciate everyone's help!
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