Can I earn my entire Social Security annual earnings limit within the first 2 months of 2025 before FRA?

Yes, you absolutely can earn the entire annual limit in the first couple months! The annual earnings test just looks at the TOTAL for the year, not when you earn it. I retired early last year and worked a 6-week contract in January-February that put me right at the limit, then didn't work the rest of the year. No problems at all with my benefits. You should definitely tell SSA about your work plans though - use the online reporting tool in your mySocialSecurity account. That way they won't be surprised when those earnings show up. They might temporarily reduce your benefits during those months, but they'll adjust everything once they see you've stopped working.

Actually, this is a bit more complicated than the other answer suggests. There are two parts to the earnings test - the annual limit AND a monthly limit. If you earn over the monthly limit in any month ($1,860/month in 2024, probably around $1,950 in 2025), you won't get benefits for that specific month, regardless of your annual total. However! There's a special rule for the first year you retire. If you have a month where you're fully retired (earn less than the monthly limit AND don't perform substantial services in self-employment), you can get benefits for that month even if you've already exceeded the annual limit. So yes, you can earn your entire annual limit in Jan-Feb, but you probably won't get benefits for those two months. You should get full benefits for March-December if you truly don't work at all.

I'm in a similar situation, but my FRA is coming up later in 2025 (in October). Do these same earnings limit rules apply to me for the whole year, or does something change once I hit FRA during the year? I keep getting confused about this.

DONT BOTHER trying to report your work activity to SSA in advance!!!! I tried this last year and still ended up with an overpayment notice because their systems are so messed up. I called FIFTEEN TIMES trying to get them to process my work report properly. Always busy signals or disconnected after waiting 2+ hours. Complete nightmare. Just be prepared to pay back any benefits they think you shouldn't have received. The whole system is designed to fail.

u should also no that if they do withhold some of ur benefits cuz of earnings test, you'll get it back later! when u reach FRA they recalculate and give u credit for all the months they reduced ur benefit. actually increases ur payment a tiny bit after FRA. not many ppl realize this part

One other thing to consider - make absolutely sure those consulting earnings don't push you into a higher tax bracket where more of your Social Security becomes taxable. Up to 85% of your benefits can be subject to income tax depending on your combined income. Might be worth talking to a tax professional before you commit to that consulting gig.

my neighbor started SS early and they messed up his payments so bad he had to pay back $12,000!!! be really careful with all this, the rules are super confusing and SS workers give wrong info all the time

To summarize for you: 1. Yes, you can earn the entire annual limit in Jan-Feb 2025 2. You'll likely not receive benefits for those two months due to the monthly earnings test 3. As long as you perform no work from March onward, you should receive full benefits for March-December 4. Make sure to report your work activity through your mySocialSecurity account 5. If you have trouble reaching SSA by phone to verify everything, consider using a service to get through 6. Any benefits withheld aren't permanently lost - they're factored in when you reach FRA Good luck with your retirement plans!