How to report part-time job income to Social Security after submitting zero estimate? Under FRA monthly threshold

You should definitely report this change to avoid any potential overpayment issues later. The best way is to call SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213. Tell them you need to update your earnings estimate for 2025. They'll likely ask about your expected monthly earnings to verify you'll stay under the earnings limit ($1,860/month for 2025 if you're under FRA). Have your SSN and rough income estimate ready when you call. They may send you a new SSA-1042 form to complete.

I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM last year!!! I told them zero income then got a job at Walmart. When I finally got someone on the phone (took 3 DAYS of calling!!!) they said I could have just mailed a letter with my updated estimate. But then 6 months later they STILL suspended my benefits saying I hadn't reported!!! Had to go to the local office with PAY STUBS to prove I was under the limit. The whole system is designed to PUNISH seniors who want to work!

I'd recommend calling and also sending a written notice through certified mail so you have proof you reported the change. Keep it simple - just include your name, SSN, contact info, and state that you're updating your 2025 earnings estimate from $0 to whatever you expect to earn (calculate monthly × number of months you'll work). Specifically mention you'll stay under the monthly earnings test amount ($1,860). While there's no specific form for updates, sending this in writing creates a paper trail. The technical term for what you're doing is "modifying your earnings estimate" which might help when speaking with representatives.

I was struggling to reach SSA for weeks to update my earnings estimate last year. A friend told me about Claimyr.com which got me connected to a real SSA agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much frustration! After I got through, the agent helped me update my earnings estimate over the phone, though they did say keeping it under the monthly limit is what really matters for benefit calculations.

Just to clarify something important: if you stay under the monthly earnings limit (currently $1,860 for 2025 if you're under FRA), Social Security doesn't actually reduce your benefits for that month. So if you consistently stay under that monthly threshold, you shouldn't have any benefit reductions regardless of your annual estimate. However, it's still important to update your estimate with SSA to avoid potential confusion or unnecessary benefit suspensions that might need to be sorted out later.

my uncle had this same problem and just reported it when he filed taxes the next year and everything was fine. ssa doesnt really care as long as your under the limit each month. but maybe the rules changed since then idk

I appreciate everyone's helpful advice! I'm going to try calling again tomorrow morning early, and if I can't get through, I'll send a certified letter with my updated estimate. I'll specifically mention I'll be staying under the monthly limit of $1,860. If calling continues to be impossible, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Mainly I just want to make sure I'm following the proper procedures so there are no surprises or benefit suspensions down the road!

Does anyone know if there's a certain time window we have to report changes in income? Like is there a deadline after you decide to start working? I'm in a similar situation but already started a part-time job 3 weeks ago and haven't reported anything yet... getting nervous reading this thread!

make sure u keep track of your hours super carefully!!! my mom went over by like $50 one month and they took away her WHOLE check that month even tho she was way under the yearly limit. the monthly limit is the important one

I work part-time at our local SSA field office and want to clarify a few things I'm seeing in this thread. First, you absolutely should report the change - calling is best, but if you can't get through, a written statement (doesn't have to be a specific form) mailed to your local office works too. Include your SSN, name, and new earnings estimate. Second, the monthly limit is indeed what matters most - if you stay under $1,860/month, no benefits will be withheld. However, SSA still needs to know about the change to avoid potential overpayment calculations at year-end. Don't stress too much - this is a common situation and easily resolved when reported properly. The key is just communicating the change, not the exact method you use to do it.

As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I wanted to add that you can also report changes through your local SSA field office if calling doesn't work out. I walked in without an appointment (though wait times vary) and they helped me update my earnings estimate on the spot. They gave me a receipt showing the change was recorded, which was really helpful for my peace of mind. Also, don't forget that if your bookstore job offers any kind of employee discount or benefits, those generally don't count toward the earnings limit - it's just the actual wages that matter. Good luck with your new position!

I went through something very similar when I started freelance consulting work after initially reporting zero income. What worked for me was sending a simple letter to my local SSA office with my name, SSN, and updated earnings estimate, along with a statement that I would stay under the monthly limit. I sent it certified mail and got a confirmation letter back within about 3 weeks acknowledging the update. The peace of mind was totally worth it! Since you're only working 35 hours monthly at a bookstore, you should easily stay under the $1,860 threshold. Don't stress too much - SSA deals with these estimate changes all the time, and as long as you stay under the monthly limit, there won't be any benefit reductions.