Can I work part-time after reaching FRA without affecting Social Security benefits?
I just hit my full retirement age (turned 66 this month) and started collecting Social Security. I'm getting bored sitting around the house already and considering picking up some part-time work starting in February. Problem is, I'm really confused about those earnings limits. I know there's some threshold where they start reducing benefits if you earn too much, but does that even apply once you've reached FRA? I don't want to accidentally mess up my benefits or create some kind of overpayment situation. Can anyone tell me how much I'm allowed to earn per month/year without SS penalizing me? I'm planning to keep it small - just enough to get me out of the house a few days a week, but want to make sure I stay under any limits.
13 comments
Join the conversation
Zane Hernandez
Good news! Once you've reached your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is 66 for you, there is NO limit on how much you can earn while receiving Social Security retirement benefits. The earnings test only applies to people who are collecting benefits before their FRA. Since you're already 66, you can work and earn as much as you want without any reduction in your SS benefits. Just keep in mind that depending on your total income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits might become taxable, but that's a separate issue from the earnings limit.
0 coins
Cassandra Moon
•Wait, really? I can earn ANY amount without reduction? That changes everything! I was planning to limit myself to just a few hours a week. Do I need to notify SSA that I'm working? And what about the tax thing - is there a threshold for when benefits become taxable?
0 coins
Genevieve Cavalier
My sister went thru this last yr. She started working at Macys after she got her SS and they never took anything away frum her checks! But she did say somethin about paying more taxes when she did her return. Not sure how that works tho
0 coins
Ethan Scott
•This is EXACTLY why the SSA system is so confusing! They don't explain any of this clearly!!! I've been limiting my income unnecessarily for 3 YEARS because I thought the earnings limit applied to EVERYONE on Social Security. No wonder the rules are different depending on who you talk to at the SSA office! 😡😡😡
0 coins
Lola Perez
To clarify what others have said: The earnings limit only applies to beneficiaries who haven't yet reached their Full Retirement Age (FRA). Since you're 66 and have reached your FRA, you can earn unlimited income without any reduction in your Social Security retirement benefits. Regarding taxation of benefits: - If your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) is between $25,000-$34,000 for single filers, up to 50% of benefits may be taxable - If combined income exceeds $34,000 for single filers, up to 85% of benefits may be taxable - For joint filers, the thresholds are $32,000-$44,000 for 50% taxation, and over $44,000 for 85% taxation You don't need to notify SSA when you start working after FRA, but you should consider if you need to adjust your tax withholding or make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid a tax bill at year-end.
0 coins
Cassandra Moon
•Thank you for breaking down the tax part! So I need to watch my total income to avoid getting hit with taxes on my benefits. My pension is about $18,000/year and SS is around $22,000, so I'm already close to that threshold. Might need to limit how much I work after all...
0 coins
Nathaniel Stewart
congrats on hitting retirement age! i'm still 3 years away and counting down lol. just wanted to say my dad works part time at a hardware store and loves it. gets him out of the house and he says the social aspect keeps him young. good luck!
0 coins
Riya Sharma
I've been trying to reach SSA for weeks to ask this exact question! Every time I call, I get stuck on hold forever and eventually disconnected. The online information wasn't clear about working at FRA vs. before FRA. I started working part-time last month and was panicking that I might lose some benefits. I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a service that holds your place in the SS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. Saved me hours of holding! There's a demo video here if you're interested: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed exactly what others here said - no earnings limit after reaching full retirement age. Such a relief because I was going to quit my new job if it affected my benefits!
0 coins
Cassandra Moon
•Thanks for the tip about Claimyr! I might need that service if I have more questions. The SSA phone system is absolutely frustrating. Last time I called I waited over an hour before giving up.
0 coins
Genevieve Cavalier
so does this mean the limits only apply if ur under FRA? im 63 and getting SS but also working part time at walmart. i thot limit was like $1700 a month or something??
0 coins
Lola Perez
•Yes, you're correct that there are earnings limits if you're collecting benefits before your FRA. For 2025, if you're under FRA for the entire year, you can earn up to $22,260 ($1,855 per month) before your benefits are reduced. The reduction is $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above the limit. In the year you reach FRA, the limit increases to $59,360 ($4,947 per month) for the months before your birthday month, with a reduction of $1 in benefits for every $3 earned above the limit. Once you reach your FRA month, there's no limit at all. If you're 63 and working at Walmart, you should carefully track your earnings to avoid going over the $22,260 annual limit, or you'll face benefit reductions.
0 coins
Santiago Diaz
I think there's something about having to pay more taxes if your income is too high with social security? My neighbor said something about 85% of his benefits being taxed when he kept working.
0 coins
Zane Hernandez
•Your neighbor is referring to the taxation of Social Security benefits, which is different from the earnings limit. Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can become taxable depending on your combined income, but this doesn't reduce the amount of benefits you receive from Social Security - it just means you might owe income tax on a portion of those benefits. The actual percentage of benefits subject to tax depends on your total income from all sources.
0 coins