Can I earn $23,400 in 2025 PLUS my Social Security checks, or is SS included in earnings limit?
I'm finally taking the plunge and starting my Social Security retirement benefits next month (turning 64)! But I still enjoy my part-time job at the library and don't plan to fully retire yet. I've been trying to understand the earnings limit for 2025, which I believe is $23,400 if you're under Full Retirement Age. What I'm confused about is whether this earnings limit INCLUDES my Social Security benefits or if it's just counting my wages from work? For example, if I receive $1,800/month from SS ($21,600/year) and make $22,000 from my job, would I be over the limit? Or is the $23,400 limit just for my work income? I've read through the SSA website but still feel confused. Thanks for clearing this up for me!
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Yara Sayegh
The earnings limit ONLY applies to your wages from work (or self-employment income), not your Social Security benefits. So in your example, only the $22,000 from your job counts toward the $23,400 limit, meaning you'd be under the limit. Your $1,800 monthly SS benefit isn't counted as 'earnings' for this purpose. Just remember that for every $2 you earn above that limit, they'll withhold $1 from your benefits until you reach your Full Retirement Age.
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Connor Gallagher
•Oh thank goodness! That's such a relief. I was worried I might have to cut back even more hours at work. So just to be 100% clear - I can receive my full Social Security check AND earn up to $23,400 from my job without any penalty? That's much better than I thought!
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Keisha Johnson
my sister got hit with this last yr...they dont count the SS $ only your actual work income. but watch out they include EVERYTHING from work - bonuses, vacation pay, sick pay all of it counts
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Paolo Longo
•And dont forget they count GROSS earnings not take-home pay! I learned that the hard way :
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CosmicCowboy
Does anyone know if they automatically track your income or do you have to report it? I'm starting my benefits in February but won't hit the earnings limit until maybe November or December depending on holiday hours at my retail job. Do I need to call them when I get close to the limit?
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Amina Diallo
•You're supposed to proactively report to SSA if you expect to exceed the earnings limit. They also get information from the IRS, but that's often delayed. If you don't report and exceed the limit, you could face an overpayment notice later. You should call and report your expected earnings for the year when you first file, then update them if your earnings change significantly.
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Oliver Schulz
I went through this exact situation last year and spent HOURS trying to get someone at Social Security to explain it clearly. Finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that gets you through to a live SSA agent without the endless waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent confirmed what others are saying - only work income counts toward the limit, not your SS benefits. But the agent also told me I need to report my estimated earnings for the year when I apply, and then notify them if my income changes significantly.
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Connor Gallagher
•Thank you for the tip! I've called SSA twice now and got disconnected both times after 45+ minutes of waiting. It's so frustrating. I'll check out that service if I need to call again. Did you find the SSA agents were helpful once you got through?
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Natasha Orlova
WRONG INFORMATION PEOPLE!!!! the earnings limit DOES include your Social Security!!! My brother just got hit with a $4,000 overpayment bill because of this!! Don't listen to these people who don't know what they're talking about!
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Yara Sayegh
•I'm sorry about your brother's situation, but there's a misunderstanding here. The earnings limit absolutely does NOT include your Social Security benefits - it only applies to wages and self-employment income. The SSA website clearly states this. Your brother's overpayment was likely due to something else - perhaps he underreported his work income or there was a calculation error. He should request an explanation and possibly appeal.
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Paolo Longo
my neighbor works at Walmart and gets SS she said as long as you stay under the limit your fine but the month you go over they take the WHOLE check not just the amount you went over which seems really unfair
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Amina Diallo
•That's not quite accurate. SSA applies a monthly earnings test only in the first year you claim benefits. After that, they apply an annual test. They don't typically withhold an entire month's benefit unless you earned more than the monthly limit in that specific month during your first year of benefits. For subsequent years, they calculate the total annual withholding and spread it across the year.
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Connor Gallagher
Thank you everyone for the helpful information! I just called SSA (took forever to get through) and the representative confirmed that only my work income counts toward the earnings limit, not my Social Security benefits. She also said I need to estimate my earnings for the year when I apply and should contact them if my income changes significantly. I appreciate all the advice - this community is so helpful!
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Keisha Johnson
dont forget this changes when u hit full retirement age...my husband just turned 67 and now he can make as much as he wants with no limit AT ALL. counting down the years til I get there too!!!
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CosmicCowboy
•Is that true even in the year you reach FRA? I thought there was some kind of partial rule for that specific year?
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Yara Sayegh
•You're right to ask. In the year you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA), there's a higher earnings limit that applies only to earnings before the month you reach FRA. For 2025, that higher limit is around $62,000 (exact number may change with COLA). After the month you reach FRA, there's no earnings limit at all. And yes, once you're past FRA, you can earn unlimited income with no impact on benefits.
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CosmicCowboy
DO I NEED TO TELL THEM if I'm going to be under the limit? Like if I'm only earning $18k from my job, do I still need to report that to SSA or only if I might go over?
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Amina Diallo
•Yes, you should report your expected earnings when you first apply for benefits, even if you'll be under the limit. This helps prevent miscommunications later. You can do this during your application process. After that, you only need to contact them if your earnings will be significantly different (higher or lower) than what you initially reported.
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