Can I earn unlimited income after reaching Full Retirement Age (67) without affecting my Social Security benefits?

Yes, that's completely correct. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age (67 for people born in 1960 or later), the earnings test no longer applies. You can earn any amount of income without it affecting your Social Security retirement benefits. It's only before FRA that there are earnings limits that can cause deductions from your benefits. For 2025, if you're under FRA for the entire year, you can earn up to $22,750 without reduction (they increase this amount annually with inflation). If you exceed that limit before FRA, they deduct $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above the limit.

You're definitely asking a smart question. I was in a similar position 2 years ago. I waited until my FRA (which was also 67) and now I'm working about 30 hours a week as a consultant PLUS collecting my full Social Security benefit. Not a penny gets reduced no matter how much I make. The earnings test completely disappears at FRA. Though keep in mind your benefits might still be subject to income tax depending on your combined income.

if u start collecting at 62 and work too much they WILL take some of ur benefits away each month!! happened to my sister last year. They took almost half her check some months because she was working at Walmart and made too much. But after 67 u can make all the $$ u want

The others are correct that there's no earnings limit after reaching your Full Retirement Age. However, I want to point out that if you're planning to collect early at 64 while working, you need to understand the potential impact. Not only will you face the earnings limit until 67, but starting benefits early permanently reduces your monthly amount by approximately 20% compared to waiting until 67. Also, working while collecting might subject more of your benefit to taxation. I spent hours on the phone with SSA trying to get clear information about my own situation last year.

I tried calling the SSA about this EXACT question last month and spent over 2 hours on hold before getting disconnected! So frustrating!! I was finally able to get through using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes. The agent confirmed what others here are saying - at FRA there's NO earnings limit. Check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of frustration!

my grandpa works AND collects his ss check and hes 70. makes good money from both and the gov doesnt take away any of his ss money. so its definitely true

While there's no earnings limit after FRA, there are still some important considerations when working while collecting Social Security: 1. Taxation - up to 85% of your Social Security benefits may be taxable depending on your combined income 2. Medicare premiums - higher income can trigger IRMAA surcharges on your Part B and D premiums 3. If you're receiving any means-tested benefits, additional income could affect eligibility So while the earnings test goes away, your overall financial picture might still be impacted by working while collecting benefits after FRA.

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I think I've got a clearer picture now. Since I'm currently 64, I'm going to hold off on collecting until I reach my FRA at 67. This way I can avoid the earnings limit altogether, plus I won't take that permanent reduction in my monthly benefit. The information about potential tax implications and Medicare premiums was also really helpful to know about. I appreciate all the advice!

As someone who just went through this decision process myself, I can confirm what everyone is saying about the earnings limit disappearing at FRA. I'm 68 now and working about 25 hours a week while collecting my full Social Security benefit. The freedom to earn without worrying about benefit reductions is amazing! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier though - if you're married, make sure to consider spousal benefits and survivor benefits in your calculations too. Sometimes it makes sense for one spouse to claim early while the other delays to maximize the household's lifetime benefits. The Social Security claiming strategy can get pretty complex when you factor in married couples. Might be worth talking to a financial planner who specializes in Social Security if your situation involves a spouse.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been researching this extensively. The earnings test elimination at FRA is one of the best-kept secrets about Social Security! I'm 66 right now and planning to wait until my FRA next year specifically for this reason. One thing I discovered that might be helpful - if you're thinking about working after claiming at FRA, consider that your Social Security benefits will continue to be protected from inflation through the annual COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment), but your work income won't have that same protection. So having that guaranteed inflation-adjusted income from Social Security plus the ability to earn unlimited additional income really creates a nice foundation for retirement security. The peace of mind knowing that no matter how much you earn, your Social Security won't be reduced is invaluable.